DWWX-TV

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This article is about the flagship station of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation in Metro Manila

DWWX-TV
Metro Manila
Branding	ABS-CBN 2 Manila
Slogan	In The Service of The Filipino Worldwide
Channels	2 (VHF) analog, 51 (UHF) digital
Translators	D12ZT 12 Olongapo City D13ZA 13 Botolan, Zambales
Affiliations	ABS-CBN
Owner	ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation
Founded	October 23, 1953
Call letters meaning	DWWX
Former callsigns	DZAQ-TV (1953-1972)
Former affiliations	BBC (1974-1986)
Transmitter Power	346.2 kilowatts
Website	www.abs-cbn.com

DWWX-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of Philippine television network ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. Its studios are located at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center at Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Mother Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City.

Contents 1 History 2 Digitalization 3 Logos 4 References 5 See also

[edit] History

DWWX-TV traces its history to the first Philippine television station DZAQ-TV, owned by Bolinao Electronics Corporation later renamed Alto Broadcasting System.

James Lindenberg, owner of BEC, was first to apply for a licence to the Philippine Congress to establish a television station in 1949. His request was granted on June 14, 1950. Because of the strict import controls and the lack of raw materials needed to open at TV station during those days, Lindenberg branched to radio broadcasting instead.

Judge Antonio Quirino, brother of then President Elpidio Quirino, also tried to apply for a license to Congress, but was denied. He later bought stocks from BEC and later gained the controlling stock and renamed the company from BEC to Alto Broadcasting System (ABS).

DZAQ-TV began commercial television operations on October 23, 1953, the first fully-licensed commercial television station in the Philippines. The first program that aired was a garden party at the Quirino residence in Guevarra Street, Quezon City. After the premiere telecast, the station followed a four-hour a day schedule, from six to ten in the evening.

In 1955, Manila Chronicle owner Eugenio Lopez, Sr. and then Vice President Fernando Lopez acquired a radio-TV franchise from Congress and immediately established Chronicle Broadcasting Network (CBN) in 1956. In February 24, 1957 Lopez called Judge Quirino to his house for breakfast and ABS was bought under a contract written on a table napkin. The corporate name was reverted to Bolinao Electronics Corporation immediately after the purchase of ABS.

With the establishment of DZXL-TV 9 of CBN in 1956, the Lopez brothers controlled both television channels in the archipelago. The monopoly in television was broken in 1961, when DZBB-TV 7 was established by the Republic Broadcasting System (RBS), owned by Robert "Uncle Bob" Stewart.

In 1967, the company was renamed ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. This company became the formal merger of the two stations DZAQ-TV 3 (ABS) and DZXL-TV 9 (CBN).

In 1966, ABS-CBN became the first TV station to broadcast certain shows in color and by December 18, 1968, ABS-CBN opened its present day Broadcast Center complex in Bohol Avenue, Quezon City; it was then the most advanced broadcasting facility of its kind during its time in Asia.

In 1969, DZAQ-TV transferred to channel 2, while its sister station DZXL-TV transferred to channel 4. This was in response to frequency adjustments.

When then President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, the station was forced to shut down. The company was seized from the Lopezes and its newly-built Broadcast Center became the home of state-run TV stations Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Channel 2), Government Television (GTV Channel 4, later renamed MBS-4) and Kanlaon Broadcasting System (KBS Channel 9).

The long hibernation of the station ended in February 1986. As the EDSA revolt broke out and the dictator's grip on power crumbled, the reformists in the military saw that TV would be a vital asset for victory. Thus, at 10 AM on February 24, 1986, they attacked and took the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center that was then the home of MBS-4.

When Marcos was deposed, the network was sequestered and returned channel 2 to the Lopezes but not channel 4. Then, DZAQ 2 during pre-Martial Law years became DWWX. On September 14, 1986, ABS-CBN TV went back on the air, broadcasting from what used to be their main garage at Broadcast Center in the pre-Martial Law days. Back then they had to share space in the building that was rightfully their own, which was then occupied for the most part by the government TV station Channel 4. Cash was low and resources stretched to the limit, with offices being made to double as dressing rooms and basics such as chairs, tables and phones in short supply.

By late 1986, the network was faltering, ranking last among the five stations and suffering heavy losses. Mr. Geny Lopez by early 1987 brought in programming whiz and ABS-CBN veteran Freddie Garcia, then working for GMA 7, and set him loose to work his magic touch.

Six months later on March 1, 1987, Channel 2 was relaunched with the slogan "The Star Network: Ang Pagbabalik Ng Bituin" (The Return of the Star). By 1988, ABS-CBN was topping the ratings, a position it had never relinquished for 16 years.

Later that year, it launched nationwide domestic satellite programming and by 1994, expanded its operations worldwide.

[edit] Digitalization

ABS-CBN has recently applied for a digital television-terrestrial service (DTT) license to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) which will pave way for digital television service and will switch off its current analog television programming set-up. Currently, the network conducts test broadcast on UHF Channel 51, carrying Channel 2 programs.

[edit] Logos

Note: The logos below are used by the network's Metro Manila station. For further information regarding the logos of the network see ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation logos.

Used from the 1950's.

The present ABS-CBN logo used since 1999.

[edit] References

• Anastacio & Badiola. what's the story, pinoy tv?. Retrieved on August 23, 2006.
• Limampung Taong Ligawan: The Pinoy TV Story [Documentary] (2003). Philippines: ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.

Preceded by: DZAQ-TV

DWWX-TV 1986-present

Succeeded by: Incumbent

[edit] See also

• ABS-CBN
• List of ABS-CBN channels and stations