Nation Broadcasting Corporation
Nation Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine broadcast company whose radio and television assets are operated or leased through affiliated networks and blocktime partners.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is a Philippine radio and television broadcasting company established in 1963 by Abelardo Yabut Sr. Its first station, DXYZ in Zamboanga City, was built using a surplus transmitter purchased from Deeco Electronics in Manila. NBC subsequently developed a nationwide radio presence, particularly through provincial AM and FM stations, and later entered television through UHF broadcasting. The company is notable for several technical and organizational milestones in Philippine broadcasting. It became one of the first Philippine networks to operate continuously for 24 hours outside Metro Manila, using DYCB 765 in Cebu City, and pioneered the use of satellite distribution to connect stations across the archipelago. NBC also carried live coverage of Philippine basketball, including games from the Philippine Amateur Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association. NBC's ownership changed significantly in 1998, when MediaQuest Holdings, the media investment arm associated with the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund, acquired the company from a consortium involving the Yabut family and businessman Manny Villar. Following the acquisition, NBC's FM stations were reorganized under the @ Rhythms banner and later received a series of local station identities and formats. The company experimented with adult contemporary, smooth jazz, rhythm and blues, oldies, modern rock, contemporary hit radio, electronic music, youth radio and news-talk programming. Several stations were leased to outside operators, including All Youth Channels and AudioWAV, demonstrating NBC's use of both owned-station operations and commercial airtime arrangements. NBC's television presence has been closely tied to its sister company TV5 Network, Inc. and to changing UHF channel brands. Its UHF facilities carried MTV Philippines until that service ended in 2010, after which the stations were used in connection with TV5-related programming and the launch of AksyonTV in 2011. AksyonTV was later rebranded as 5 Plus in 2019 and then as One Sports in 2020. NBC television facilities in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao subsequently became mirror feeds of RPTV in 2024, while other NBC-owned television assets continued to support TV5-group broadcasting arrangements. On radio, NBC's Radyo5 news-talk network was developed and operated with TV5 Network. In 2024, NBC announced a major restructuring of its FM relationships. Philippine Collective Media Corporation received a blocktime and content-licensing arrangement involving NBC's Metro Manila and provincial FM stations, while True FM programming moved to other facilities in selected markets. Radyo5 was repositioned as the broader True Network, encompassing FM radio, the True TV pay-television service, podcasts and digital platforms. The arrangement was reported as involving a prospective transfer of FM assets and licenses subject to regulatory and commercial conditions, while NBC's owned television assets were excluded. NBC's congressional franchise was renewed in 1998 and again in 2022. The later renewal expressly included provisions concerning digital television transmission. As of the latest referenced material, NBC remains an active Philippine broadcast company, but much of its day-to-day station output is delivered through sister-network operations, leased airtime or affiliated media partners rather than through a single wholly NBC-branded national service.
History
Nation Broadcasting Corporation was founded in 1963 by Abelardo Yabut Sr. Its first station was DXYZ in Zamboanga City, established with a surplus transmitter purchased from Deeco Electronics in Manila. NBC expanded from this provincial beginning into a network of AM stations serving regional Philippine markets. The company later became known for technical innovations, including 24-hour broadcasting outside Metro Manila and the use of satellite transmission to link stations around the country. NBC entered FM broadcasting in 1973 with DWFM in Metro Manila, initially branded MRS 92.3 and oriented toward adult contemporary music. In 1975 it established FM operations in Cebu and Davao, followed by additional provincial outlets. After MediaQuest Holdings acquired NBC in 1998 from a consortium associated with the Yabut family and Manny Villar, the FM network was reorganized under the @ Rhythms banner. Stations adopted individual identities and varied formats, including smooth jazz, R&B, oldies, modern rock and contemporary hit radio. The banner was later dropped, while many local names remained for a period. NBC's AM business also underwent repeated format changes. DWXX 1026 was acquired in 1987 and reformatted as DZAM, with news, commentary, entertainment and music. In 1998 it became DZAR and adopted a news-and-talk orientation. NBC's AM stations were later associated with the Angel Radyo identity before all of the company's AM stations were acquired in 2005 by Swara Sug Media Corporation, associated with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Apollo Quiboloy, and rebranded as Sonshine Radio. The company experimented extensively with FM leases and partnerships during the 2000s. In 2007, XFM replaced the Manila 92.3 station and initially offered ambient, chill-out, electronic, house, lounge, trip-hop and related music. In 2009, the Manila station was leased to All Youth Channels and became U92, a youth-oriented service connected with MTV Philippines. The arrangement ended in 2010 after the closure of MTV Philippines. Cebu and Davao facilities were leased to AudioWAV and operated as WAV FM. NBC's television activities developed through UHF facilities and relationships with TV5-related companies. Channel 41 carried MTV Philippines before becoming inactive and later being used for TV5-associated programming. On February 21, 2011, AksyonTV launched as a news and current-affairs channel with sports content added later. It was renamed 5 Plus in 2019 and replaced by One Sports in 2020. NBC television facilities also supported One Sports in selected cities and became RPTV mirror feeds in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao in 2024. MediaQuest Holdings remained NBC's parent within the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund structure, while TV5 Network, Inc. operated NBC radio and television stations or supplied programming through sister-company arrangements. In 2024, NBC announced a further restructuring of its FM operations. Philippine Collective Media Corporation entered into a blocktime and content-licensing arrangement involving the Metro Manila 92.3 FM station and selected provincial services. True FM programming was also moved to other stations in selected markets. The company's Radyo5 identity was broadened into the True Network, incorporating radio, pay television, podcast and digital distribution. NBC's congressional franchise was renewed through Republic Act No. 8623 on April 8, 1998. Republic Act No. 11667, signed on March 29, 2022, renewed the franchise for another 25 years and added language addressing digital television. NBC therefore continues as a licensed Philippine broadcasting company, although its stations and brands are operated through a changing combination of TV5-group management, leased airtime and affiliated media companies.
- 2024
Selected television stations became RPTV feeds
[1]NBC facilities in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao began carrying mirror feeds of RPTV.
- 2024
Radyo5 expanded into the True Network
[1]NBC and its partners extended the radio identity into True FM, True TV, podcasts and digital services.
- 2022
NBC franchise renewed again
[1]Republic Act No. 11667 renewed NBC's franchise for another 25 years and covered digital television transmission.
- 2020
One Sports took over the channel space
[1]One Sports replaced 5 Plus on the relevant free-to-air and pay-television distribution.
- 2019
AksyonTV became 5 Plus
[1]The channel shifted toward sports programming and was repositioned as 5 Plus.
- 2011
AksyonTV launched
[1]AksyonTV began broadcasting on NBC-related UHF capacity as a news and current-affairs service.
- 2010
Radyo5 92.3 News FM launched
[1]TV5-related management launched a news-talk FM service on NBC's Metro Manila frequency.
- 2007
XFM launched
[1]XFM replaced the Manila 92.3 FM service with an electronic, ambient and related music format.
- 2005
NBC AM stations sold to Swara Sug Media
[1]NBC's AM stations were acquired by Swara Sug Media Corporation and rebranded as Sonshine Radio.
- 1998
MediaQuest acquired NBC
[1]MediaQuest Holdings acquired NBC from a consortium associated with the Yabut family and Manny Villar.
Products and positioning
A Philippine broadcast infrastructure and operating company focused on nationwide radio and UHF television distribution, with programming delivered through TV5-related operations, affiliated networks and commercial blocktime partners.
Multimedia broadcasting platform · 2024
True Network
The True Network is NBC's broader multimedia identity developed from the Radyo5 service. It connects True FM radio outlets with the True TV pay-television channel, podcasts and digital or social-media distribution. Selected programming can also appear on TV5-related services such as RPTV and One PH. The network is designed to extend a radio-originated news, talk and entertainment operation across multiple broadcast and online platforms.
FM radio · 2024
True FM
True FM is the flagship FM radio service associated with the True Network. It uses NBC-owned or NBC-affiliated frequencies and is distributed through a combination of direct station operations, sister-company management and commercial agreements. Its current footprint and station relationships have been affected by the 2024 restructuring involving Philippine Collective Media Corporation.
Sports television · 2020
One Sports
One Sports is a sports-oriented television service carried through NBC-related UHF facilities and affiliated distribution. It replaced 5 Plus in 2020 and functions as a principal broadcaster of sports programming in selected Philippine cities, including Metro Manila, Baguio, General Santos and Zamboanga. The service is operated in connection with TV5 Network rather than as a standalone NBC programming operation.
Free-to-air television · 2024
RPTV
RPTV is carried through NBC television facilities in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao as mirror feeds. The arrangement began in connection with RPTV's launch and replaced One Sports on those particular NBC transmitters. NBC's role is principally that of a facilities and transmission owner or affiliate, while programming is supplied through the associated network arrangement.
FM news and talk radio · 2010
Radyo5 News FM
Radyo5 92.3 News FM was launched in Metro Manila in 2010 after TV5-related management took over the 92.3 FM operation. It was positioned as an FM news-talk station and later supplied programming to provincial relays and regional outlets. The brand was subsequently folded into the broader True Network identity.
News and sports television · 2011
AksyonTV
AksyonTV launched in 2011 on NBC-related UHF capacity as a news and current-affairs channel. Its first programming included a simulcast of the Radyo5 morning news program, and sports content was added during its run. The service was later rebranded as 5 Plus in 2019.
Sports television · 2019
5 Plus
5 Plus was the short-lived successor to AksyonTV. Launched in 2019, it shifted the channel's emphasis toward sports programming supplied through ESPN5 and served as a complementary service to The 5 Network. One Sports replaced it in 2020.
FM music radio · 2007
XFM
XFM replaced the Manila 92.3 service in 2007 and initially specialized in ambient, chill-out, down-tempo, electronic, house, lounge, trip-hop and indie music. Its format later changed before the frequency entered further lease and management arrangements.
Brand decisions
2024
FM restructuring and creation of the True NetworkStrategyBackground
NBC revised its FM operating and content relationships while Philippine Collective Media Corporation entered an arrangement involving the 92.3 FM Metro Manila station and selected provincial services.
Action taken
Radyo5 was repositioned as the True Network, and True FM programming was distributed through revised station, television, podcast and digital arrangements.
Aftermath
The arrangement affected station branding and market coverage. The reported transfer of FM assets and licenses remained subject to regulatory appeals and commercial conditions, while NBC's television assets were excluded.
2020
Replacement of 5 Plus by One SportsGeneration changeBackground
The TV5 group reoriented its UHF sports offering after 5 Plus had operated for approximately fourteen months.
Action taken
One Sports took over the relevant channel space and became available through free television and other pay-television operators.
Aftermath
NBC-related television facilities became important distribution points for the group's sports programming.
2011
Launch of AksyonTVProduct launchBackground
TV5 sought to use NBC-related UHF capacity for a television service linked to its radio news operation.
Action taken
AksyonTV launched with news and current-affairs programming, initially including a simulcast of the Radyo5 morning program.
Aftermath
The channel later added sports and was successively rebranded as 5 Plus and One Sports.
2010
Launch of Radyo5 92.3 News FMProduct launchBackground
NBC's 92.3 FM frequency had passed through XFM and a U92 lease arrangement before TV5-related management assumed control.
Action taken
The station was relaunched as Radyo5 92.3 News FM, an FM news-talk service, with provincial stations later carrying relays or regional versions.
Aftermath
Radyo5 became a major NBC-linked radio identity and later served as the foundation for the True Network.
1998
MediaQuest acquisition of NBCM&ABackground
NBC was acquired from a consortium associated with the Yabut family and Manny Villar as MediaQuest expanded its Philippine media holdings.
Action taken
MediaQuest Holdings placed NBC within the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund media structure and subsequently reorganized elements of its radio portfolio.
Aftermath
NBC's stations became increasingly connected with TV5-related operations and were used under multiple local brands and operating arrangements.
Sources3 sources
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