DWIZ, RPN forge pact to widen Reach

January 3, 2014

''In Photo: Aliw Broadcasting Corp. (DWIZ) and Radio Philippines Network Inc. (RPN) formalized their partnership on Friday through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the RPN office in Broadcast City at Diliman, Quezon City. The MOA was signed by J. Antonio A. Cabangon Jr. (second from left), Aliw president; and Robert T. Rivera (second from right), RPN president. The signing was witnessed by Reynante “Rey” Langit (left), DWIZ station manager; and Wilson Tieng, RPN chairman. The partnership will widen the reach of the two stations. (Roy Domingo)''

Aliw Broadcasting Corp., a sister company of the BusinessMirror and owner of several AM radio stations under the dwIZ brand, is set to air its programs over Radio Philippines Network Inc. (RPN), partly owned by the government, that has a wide network in Mindanao.

In a memorandum of agreement signed between the two parties on Friday, the dwIZ- produced programs would be aired simultaneously over RPN during an initial period.

The dwIZ-produced programs are Kasangga Mo Ang Langit, Karambola, Hataw sa Serbisyo, Isumbong Mo Kay Tulfo, Doble Banda and Chachahin Mo Baby. The deal is not limited to the programs cited. The aims to widen the reach of the DWIZ programs and enhance revenue generation for both parties. “Revenue from commercial spots for the Aliw programs shall be shared by the parties,” according to the agreement signed by Robert Rivera, RPN president, and J. Antonio A. Cabangon Jr., Aliw Broadcasting president.

RPN has 13 stations in the Philippines, three of which are non-operational but would undergo rehabilitation.

Its operating stations are dzKB Manila, dzRL Batac, dzKI Iriga, dzBS Baguio, dyKB Bacolod, dxKS Surigao, dxXX Zamboanga, dxKD Dipolog, dxKT Davao, dxDX General Santos and dxKP Pagadian. The stations that will undergo rehabilitation are dzTG Tuguegarao, dyKC Cebu and dxKO Cagayan de Oro.

In November last year RPN retrenched some 200 employees as part of its move to wind down its public-affairs operations to stem further financial losses. The government still has a 20.8-percent stake in RPN; the Solar Entertainment Group, led by businessman Wilson Tieng, owns 34 percent; Far East Managers and Investors Inc., an investment group associated with the late Ambassador Roberto Benedicto, owns 32 percent; and the remaining 14 percent is owned by individual private investors.