UM Broadcasting Network
UM Broadcasting Network is a Philippine radio network serving as the media arm of the University of Mindanao.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
UM Broadcasting Network, commonly known as UMBN, is a Philippine radio network associated with the University of Mindanao and controlled primarily by the Torres family. Its headquarters are in Davao City, the principal commercial and institutional center of Mindanao, with national marketing operations in Makati. The network operates through a combination of directly controlled operations, subsidiaries, affiliates, and airtime arrangements rather than through a single uniform station structure. Its geographic base is Mindanao, although its station relationships and brand reach extend into the Visayas and Luzon. The network traces its origins to DXMC, which was established in Davao City in 1949 by businessman and attorney Guillermo E. Torres. DXMC is described as the first radio station in Davao City and the wider Mindanao region. Torres subsequently obtained a broader broadcast franchise through Republic Act 514, and the franchise was amended on June 22, 1957, through Republic Act 1832. The amendment enabled the establishment and operation of additional radio stations in the Philippines. In the same year that the Mindanao College was renamed the University of Mindanao, the University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network was established and DXUM was launched as a second station. During the late 1950s and 1960s, UMBN expanded its station footprint across Mindanao. Its operations included stations serving Davao City, Tagum, Digos, Cotabato City, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City, Iligan, and Bukidnon. This expansion made the network an important regional broadcasting platform and tied its identity closely to the university and to the Torres family's business activities. The network's development was interrupted in 1972, when all UMBN stations were shut down during the period of Martial Law. Operations later resumed. In 1975, ownership of DXUM was transferred to the Torres-owned Mt. Apo Broadcasting System, while UMBN continued to handle airtime operations. After the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, UMBN reorganized parts of its station portfolio. In 1988, DXMC moved to the FM band and was relaunched as DXWT. It became the foundation of Wild FM, one of UMBN's best-known network brands. At the same time, DXUM and other AM stations formed the core of the Radyo Ukay network, which emphasized AM broadcasting and later developed a news and public-affairs identity. UMBN expanded beyond Mindanao during the 1990s and 2000s through affiliates and leased airtime. Wild FM entered Cebu in 1994 through an airtime arrangement on 105.9 FM, later moving to 103.5 FM in 2002 after Ditan Communications became an UMBN affiliate. In 2003, the network used leased airtime on 100.3 FM for an oldies and classic-hits service called Oldies Radio. That service became Hit Radio in 2008 and later moved to 95.5 FM in 2009. Following UMBN's acquisition of the 95.5 FM operation through its licensee Mt. Apo Broadcasting in 2016, the station developed into Retro 95.5. UMBN currently presents three principal radio brand families: UMBN News & Public Affairs, Wild FM, and Retro. Mt. Apo Broadcasting System operates AM and FM stations in Mindanao, while Ditan Communications supports stations in the Visayas and Luzon. The network's business model combines regional broadcasting, branded programming, station ownership or control, affiliation, and airtime leasing. Its continuing importance lies in its regional reach, its long association with the University of Mindanao, and its role in maintaining a major Mindanao-centered radio group within the Philippine broadcasting sector.
History
UM Broadcasting Network developed from the early radio enterprise of Guillermo E. Torres in Davao City. Its immediate predecessor was DXMC, founded in 1949 and identified as the first radio station in Davao City and in Mindanao as a whole. Torres's broadcasting activities received statutory support through Republic Act 514. A subsequent amendment, Republic Act 1832, approved on June 22, 1957, broadened the franchise and permitted Torres to establish and operate radio stations elsewhere in the Philippines. The University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network was organized in 1957, during the period when the Mindanao College was renamed the University of Mindanao. DXUM was introduced as the network's second radio station. The network expanded through the late 1950s and 1960s, building a collection of stations across Mindanao. Its reported coverage included Davao City, Tagum, Digos, Cotabato City, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City, Iligan, and Bukidnon. This regional development positioned UMBN as both a commercial broadcaster and an institutional media arm linked to the University of Mindanao. The Torres family remained central to the ownership and management structure. UMBN's operations were interrupted in 1972, when its stations were shut down during Martial Law. Broadcasting subsequently resumed, although the available reference does not provide a precise date for the restart. In 1975, ownership of DXUM was transferred to Mt. Apo Broadcasting System, another Torres-owned company. UMBN retained the station's airtime operations, establishing a structure in which station ownership and network programming could be divided among related entities. The network underwent a major technical and brand reorganization in 1988, approximately two years after the EDSA People Power Revolution. DXMC moved from AM to FM and was relaunched as DXWT. The station became the nucleus of Wild FM, a branded FM network. DXUM and other AM operations were grouped under the Radyo Ukay identity. This gave UMBN distinct brand platforms for FM music broadcasting and AM-oriented programming. During the 1990s, the Wild FM brand began extending outside Mindanao. In 1994, UMBN used an airtime lease on 105.9 FM in Cebu. The Cebu operation later moved to 103.5 FM in 2002 after Ditan Communications became an UMBN affiliate. This affiliate relationship helped UMBN reach the Visayas without relying exclusively on stations directly owned by the original Mindanao operation. UMBN also experimented with oldies and classic-hits formats. In 2003, it rented airtime on Rajah Broadcasting Network's 100.3 FM and launched Oldies Radio. The station was renamed Hit Radio in 2008. In 2009, the service transferred its airtime lease to ACWS-UBN's 95.5 FM. Mt. Apo Broadcasting, acting as UMBN's licensee, acquired the station in 2016, after which the service developed into Retro 95.5. The earlier 100.3 FM operation subsequently became a relay of Manila-based DZRJ-FM in the early 2010s. In 2020, UMBN retired the Radyo Ukay branding from its AM stations. The change was presented as part of a strengthening of news and public-affairs programming, and the network's AM identity became associated with UMBN News & Public Affairs. The modern network therefore consists of three principal brand families: UMBN News & Public Affairs, Wild FM, and Retro. Mt. Apo Broadcasting System operates UMBN-related AM and FM stations in Mindanao, while Ditan Communications handles affiliated stations in the Visayas and Luzon. UMBN remains a regional Philippine radio group whose identity combines university affiliation, Torres family ownership, local broadcasting, and multi-brand station operations.
- 2020
Radyo Ukay branding is retired
[1]UMBN ends the Radyo Ukay brand on its AM stations and enhances their news and public-affairs programming.
- 2016
Mt. Apo Broadcasting acquires the 95.5 FM operation
[1]UMBN acquires the 95.5 FM operation through its licensee Mt. Apo Broadcasting, and the station develops into Retro 95.5.
- 2009
Classic-hits service moves to 95.5 FM
[1]The Hit Radio airtime arrangement moves to ACWS-UBN-owned 95.5 FM.
- 2008
Oldies Radio becomes Hit Radio
[1]The classic-hits station is rebranded as Hit Radio.
- 2003
Oldies Radio launches
[1]UMBN rents airtime on 100.3 FM and introduces an oldies and classic-hits service named Oldies Radio.
- 2002
Cebu Wild FM moves frequency
[1]The Cebu Wild FM operation moves from 105.9 FM to 103.5 FM after Ditan Communications becomes an UMBN affiliate.
- 1994
Wild FM enters Cebu
[1]The network expands into Cebu through an airtime lease on 105.9 FM.
- 1988
Wild FM is formed
[1]DXMC moves to FM, is relaunched as DXWT, and becomes the nucleus of UMBN's Wild FM network.
- 1975
DXUM ownership moves to Mt. Apo Broadcasting System
[1]Torres transfers ownership of DXUM to Mt. Apo Broadcasting System while UMBN continues its airtime operations.
- 1972
Stations are shut down during Martial Law
[1]All UMBN stations are taken off the air during the Martial Law period; operations later resume.
Products and positioning
A Mindanao-centered Philippine radio network combining university-affiliated public-service broadcasting, regional news and public affairs, contemporary FM entertainment, and classic-hits programming.
AM radio network · 2020
UMBN News & Public Affairs
UMBN's news and public-affairs radio identity, associated with the network's AM stations after the retirement of the Radyo Ukay branding in 2020. It represents the network's information-oriented programming and its continuing role in regional broadcast news.
FM radio network · 1988
Wild FM
Wild FM is UMBN's principal FM network. It originated from the conversion and relaunch of DXMC as DXWT in 1988 and later expanded beyond Mindanao through affiliated and leased stations, including a Cebu operation. The brand is associated with music-oriented FM broadcasting.
classic-hits FM radio network · 2016
Retro
Retro is UMBN's classic-hits radio brand. Its lineage runs from Oldies Radio, launched through leased airtime in 2003, to Hit Radio in 2008 and the later Retro 95.5 service after the 95.5 FM operation was acquired through Mt. Apo Broadcasting.
Brand decisions
2020
Retirement of the Radyo Ukay brandStrategyBackground
UMBN reviewed the identity of its AM stations after approximately two decades of Radyo Ukay branding.
Action taken
On June 16, 2020, the network retired Radyo Ukay and enhanced its news and public-affairs programming.
Aftermath
The AM stations became associated with the UMBN News & Public Affairs identity.
2016
Acquisition of the 95.5 FM operationM&ABackground
UMBN's classic-hits service had moved through several airtime leases and station arrangements.
Action taken
The 95.5 FM operation was acquired through UMBN licensee Mt. Apo Broadcasting and developed into Retro 95.5.
Aftermath
The transaction gave the Retro service a more directly controlled operating base.
1988
Conversion of DXMC into the Wild FM foundationGeneration changeBackground
UMBN reorganized its station portfolio after the 1986 political transition and moved DXMC from AM to FM.
Action taken
DXMC was relaunched as DXWT, forming the core of the Wild FM network.
Aftermath
The change established a distinct FM music brand while other stations continued under an AM-oriented identity.
Recent events
- 2020
Radyo Ukay branding is retired[1]
Product generation
On June 16, 2020, UMBN retired the Radyo Ukay name from its AM stations as part of an enhancement of news and public-affairs programming.
- 1994
Wild FM expands into Cebu[1]
Product launch
UMBN extended the Wild FM brand into Cebu through an airtime lease on 105.9 FM.
- 1988
DXMC becomes the foundation of Wild FM[1]
Product generation · Product launch
DXMC was moved to the FM band and relaunched as DXWT, forming the nucleus of UMBN's Wild FM network.
UMBN stations resume operations after the 1972 shutdown[1]
Other
UMBN's stations were shut down during Martial Law in 1972 and later resumed broadcasting. The available reference does not specify the exact resumption date.
Sources1 sources
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