DZRJ-AM

Not to be confused withDZRJ-DTVorDZRJ-FM.

Radyo Bandido (DZRJ)

Makati
Broadcast area	Mega Manilaand surrounding areas
Frequency	810 kHz (HD Radio)
Branding	DZRJ 810 Radyo Bandido
Programming
Language(s)	Filipino,English
Format	News,Public Affairs,Talk
Affiliations	Daily Tribune,BBC World Service,Voice of America
Ownership
Owner	Rajah Broadcasting Network (Free Air Broadcasting Network, Inc.)
Sister stations	100.3 RJFM,RJDigiTV
History
First air date	1963
Former frequencies	780 kHz (1963–1978)
Call signmeaning	RamonJacinto
Technical information
Licensing authority	NTC
Power	50,000watts
Links
Webcast	Listen/Watch via Facebook Live
Website	RJplanet.com

Radyo Bandido TV

Country	Philippines
Broadcast area	Philippines
Network	DZRJ 810 AM Radyo Bandido
Affiliates	RJ DigiTV
Headquarters	Ventures I Building,Makati Avenuecorner General Luna Street,Makati
Programming
Language(s)	Tagalog,English
Picture format	480i4:3(SDTV)
Ownership
Owner	Rajah Broadcasting Network
Sister channels	RJ Rock TV
History
Launched	September 16, 2019 (test broadcast) October 15, 2019 (soft launch) February 13, 2020 (official launch)
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial television	Channel 29.3
Streaming media
YouTube	Watch Live

DZRJ(810AM)Radyo Bandidois a radio station owned and operated byRajah Broadcasting Networkthrough its licensee Free Air Broadcasting Network, Inc. Its studio is located at the 2nd Floor, Ventures I Building,Makati Avenuecorner General Luna Street, BarangayPoblacion,Makati,while its transmitter is located along Km. 21Quirino Highway,Barangay Pasong Putik,Novaliches,Quezon City.

History

1963–1986: Boss Radio

In 1963, the 17-year-old Ramon "RJ" Jacinto started operating the station in the backyard of his house together with his classmates fromAteneo de Manila University.Originally broadcast on the frequency of 780kHz,it carried the tagline, "DzRJ: Boss Radio", which later evolved into "DzRJ, The Rock of Manila" as it hosted a daily show called "Pinoy Rock 'n' Rhythm" (later shortened to "Pinoy Rock"), which was conceived by DzRJ's original station manager, Alan Austria (" Double-A ") and its program director, Emil Quinto (" Charlie Brown "). DZRJ's radio personalities, the" Bossmen ", then the" RockJocks ", became celebrities in Manila's counterculture.

Pinoy Rock 'n' Rhythm

The dailyPinoy Rock 'n' Rhythmradio show, which was hosted by Bob Lopez-Pozas ( "Bob Magoo" ) and later by Dante David ( "Howlin' Dave" ), featured the early vinyl releases of pioneering Filipino rock groups such as RJ and the Riots', theJuan Dela Cruz BandandAnakbayan,as well as submissions (on cassette tapes) of recordings from Manila's unsigned bands and independent artists. The earliest contributions were from groups such asMaria Cafra( "Kamusta Mga Kaibigan" / "How Are You, Friends?" ),Petrified Anthem( "Drinking Wine" ),Destiny( "A Taste Of Honey" ), and the nascentApolinario Mabini Hiking Society.

A mobile recording studio was set up by Alan Austria in 1974, using the station's 4-track tape recorder and mixing board, for "live-in-the-booth" recordings to facilitate the entries of contestants for one of its sponsors, RC Cola and its First National Battle of the Bands (produced by RC Cola's then COO, Cesare Syjuco). More than 200 new songs were said to have been recorded for the Pinoy Rock 'n' Rhythm show, and these entries were aired in succession through many weeks, as the participating bands worked their way into the elimination rounds. Thesedemospaved the way for recording artists such asFlorante,Heber Bartolomeof Banyuhay,Johnny Alegreof Hourglass,Bob Avesof Destiny, and many others, who thrived prominently in the Philippine record industry during later years.

DZRJ's premises, the J&T Building alongMagsaysay BoulevardinSanta Mesa,Manila,was the site for rock concerts which were organized by the station; first on the building's roofdeck, and later in its open-air parking lot. The emergence of Pinoy Rock as a popular musical genre was the springboard for artists to emerge commercially, as their key recordings reached a wide listening public. The best examples of such artists and their hits are the Juan Dela Cruz Band ( "Himig Natin" ),Sampaguita( "Bonggahan" ),Mike Hanopol( "Laki Sa Layaw" ), and even Eddie Munji III ( "Pinoy Jazz" ) and, of course, DZRJ's very ownRJ Jacinto( "Muli" ).

The station's Pinoy rock scene, as well as non-rock pop hits, thus formed the basis of what is now known as Original Pinoy Music (OPM).

The Rock 'n' Roll Machine

DZRJ was also known for a cross-genre, album-oriented midnight show, calledThe Rock 'n' Roll Machine,hosted by Hoagy Pardo ( "Cousin Hoagy'" ), which provided late night listeners with entire sides of advance copies of LPs from the United States and the United Kingdom. Its early morning program opened to a rousing drumbeat from aVenturessong with a pre-recorded tape cartridge ofHowlin' Daveannouncing "Gising na, RJ na!"(" Wake up, it's RJ time! "). It also aired the packaged US chart show,Casey Kasem'sAmerican Top 40.

New frequency assignment

In November 1978, DZRJ-AM moved to the current frequency of 810 kHz, in response to the frequency adjustments, owing to the adoption of the current 9 kHz spacing on AM radio stations in the Philippines implemented by theGeneva Frequency Plan of 1975,replacing the NARBA mandated 10 kHz AM radio spacing plan which was used from 1922 up to that time.

1986–2010: The first iteration of Radyo Bandido

Further information:People Power Revolution

At the height of thePeople Power Revolutionin late February 1986 that ousted then-sittingPresidentFerdinand Marcos,newscasterJune KeithleyandFr. James Reuter, S.J.commandeered the DZRJ station, which they renamedRadyo Bandido(Outlaw Radio or Bandit Radio). This was after the facilities and transmitter of Keithley's home network, theChurch-ownedRadio Veritas,were shut down by the Marcos-loyalArmed Forces of the Philippines.Radyo Bandido broadcasts opened with former PresidentRamón Magsaysay's political jingleMambo Magsaysay(composed by Raúl Manglapus), because it was also the theme music of the disabled Radio Veritas and thus enabled Keithley to clandestinely identify herself to listening protesters.

For her role in providing both information and morale to protesters during the Revolution, Keithley was awarded theMedal of the Legion of Honorby PresidentCory Aquinoafter the fall of the Marcos regime.TheRadio Broadcast of the Philippine People Power Revolution,which includes broadcasts from DZRJ, is inscribed on theUNESCOMemory of the World Register,the official documentary heritage list of the United Nations.

To honor the station's key role in the 1986 Revolution, DZRJ AM was officially rebrandedRadyo Bandido,and switching to a public service format. Meanwhile, the music format revived on FM asRJ 100.3,then later, RJ Underground Radio 105.9 (now105.9 Neo Retro), as well as their flagship TV networkRJ DigiTV.DZRJ is known for some veteran broadcasters such as Johnny Midnight and Art Borjal. Since 2004, it began airing news from theBBC World Serviceand theVoice of America.ThePBAGames on Radio was moved to DZRJ-AM fromDZSRin 2009.UAAPon Radio started on DZRJ-AM in 2010. Of note as well is DZRJ-AM's role duringEDSA IIin 2001 which led to the resignation of PresidentJoseph Estrada.

2010–2015: The Voice of the Philippines

With Radyo Bandido's popularity waning during the recent years, the management decided to launch a unique brand in June 2010. On July 19, it upgraded its transmitter facilities to 50,000 watts. Radyo Bandido signed off for the last time on August 22.

On August 25, 2010, DZRJ launched its English-language broadcasts under the brandingThe Voice of the Philippinesas a test broadcast, with its official launch on October 4, 2010.DZRJ was the only English-language AM station inMega Maniladuring the existence. Its format consisted of news in English from thePhilippine Star,the Voice of America and the BBC World Service, Lifestyle, Sports and Public Service. In September 2015, the same time the station launched the newest morning showThe New Bandidos.

On June 7, 2016,Greco Belgicajoined DZRJ and launched his program #GrecoLive. It was a widely acceptedpublic serviceprogram that caters tooverseas Filipino Workersand local issues. CJ Santos co-hosted #GrecoLive as Jack Logan.

2015–2017: 8TriMedia era

On October 4, 2015, 8TriMedia, a media firm owned by rice trader Jojo Soliman and veteran radio broadcaster Kaye Dacer (formerly fromDZMM), transferred its programs andtime-sharingoperation fromDWBL-AM.With the transfer of operations, 8TriMedia programs started broadcasting via TeleRadyo format exclusively onCablelink,where it was seen on Channel 7 as8TriTV.

Initially, 8TriMedia occupied the 9am to 7pm airtime of DZRJ. By November 2016, it occupied the full 21-hour airtime on weekdays, keeping the overnight hook-up of theBBC World Serviceand original DZRJ programs (especially on weekends) intact.

8TriMedia made use of theRadyo Bandidobrand until late 2016. Despite being brokered by 8TriMedia, DZRJ still retained theVoice of the Philippinesbrand when airing its own programs. During its tenure, Daniel Castro provided voice-overs for station ID's, program teasers, and other on-air elements aired on the station.

In November 2017, 8TriMedia's original studio in Seneca Plaza Bldg., Quezon City was damaged due to flooding brought byTropical Storm Salome (Haikui).This prompted 8TriMedia's programs and personalities to utilize DZRJ's original studio at the Ventures Building in Makati, until a new studio for 8TriMedia was reconstructed.

In December 2017, DZRJ cancelled its agreement from blocktimer 8TriMedia.

2017–present: Return of Radyo Bandido

Following the end of agreement, most of the programs and radio personalities from 8TriMedia had been now integrated to DZRJ's programming. With that development, DZRJ brought back its legendary Radyo Bandido brand.

Radyo Bandido TV

Since June 6, 2018, some programs of Radyo Bandido began airing on "TeleRadyo" format throughRJdigiTVafter its affiliate2nd Avenueended its free TV broadcast and its blocktime agreement withSolar Entertainment Corporationhas expired. There are plans though to make a separate "TeleRadyo" sub-channel on RJdigiTV for the station. On September 16, 2019, DZRJ TeleRadyo began its initial test broadcast on RJdigiTV sub-channel, and it is also available via SkyCable Channel 224 in Metro Manila.

On October 15, 2019, the same standalone channel was formally launched as DZRJ RadioVision, reverting its cable and digital channel assignment on channel 29.03. Alongside this, DZRJ unveiled its new content.

External links

• RJ Group of Companies website