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MOR Entertainment
New media radio station in the Philippines From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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MOR Entertainment is a new media radio service owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation.
MOR started in 2001 as the FM brand of ABS-CBN Regional and terrestrially operated 15 radio stations in the Philippines. As a broadcast radio network, MOR stations played contemporary MOR and OPM, as well as radio drama, talk content and news (via TV Patrol Regional; available on selected stations).
Since the forced shutdown of ABS-CBN brought about by the congressional denial of its franchise, MOR resurfaced as an online radio station since September 14, 2020. MOR currently broadcasts via Facebook, Kumu, Spotify, iWantTFC, ABS-CBN Radio Service, Alto, and Malaysian based radio app Syok.
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History and background
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Radio Romance (1989–1993)
ABS-CBN's Manila FM station, DWRR 101.9, rebranded as 101.9 Radio Romance on July 16, 1989, shifting to an easy-listening love song format. Notably, it was the first FM station to use CDs for its playlists and initially featured an all-female DJ lineup, including Amy Perez.
Radio Romance expanded nationwide on August 1, 1989, with DZRR 103.1 Baguio becoming its first relay station. This was followed by DYLS 97.1 Cebu (January 20, 1992) and DXRR 101.1 Davao (January 25, 1992). In the early 1990s, the station began satellite simulcasting across the country, adopting the name Radio Romance: Nationwide.
Star Radio (1993–1997)
On July 14, 1993, DXEC 91.9 Cagayan de Oro launched as The Great EC 91.9 STAR Radio from its Limketkai Center studios. It was ABS-CBN's first regional station to adopt the “STAR Radio” banner and a mass-based format.
By 1995, ABS-CBN began expanding its ABS-CBN STAR Radio network, branded with the tagline “The Heart of the City.” Newly launched stations included DWEL 95.5 Laoag, DWEC 94.3 Dagupan (as ABS-CBN STAR Radio Northern Luzon, relayed by DZRR),[1] DWRD 93.9 Legazpi, DWAC 93.5 Naga, DYMC 91.1 Iloilo, DYOO 101.5 Bacolod, DYTC 94.3 Tacloban, DXRR 101.1 Davao, DXBC 92.7 General Santos, and DXFH 98.7 Zamboanga. This branding was the initial identity for ABS-CBN's regional FM network, lasting until 1997.
ABS-CBN Radio/ProStar (1997–1999)
On March 1, 1997, ABS-CBN's FM stations, now under the Regional Network Group (RNG) (RNG), were rebranded as ABS-CBN Radio to avoid confusion with the rival Star FM. The “The Heart of the City” slogan was retained. A subset of these regional stations outside Manila adopted the ProStar branding.
ABS-CBN For Life! (1999–2001)
On February 8, 1999, ABS-CBN's regional radio stations were rebranded to ABS-CBN For Life!, dropping “Radio” from their name.
My Only Radio/MOR Philippines (2001–2021)
On July 14, 2001, ABS-CBN For Life! rebranded as MOR (My Only Radio), first launching in Cagayan de Oro. The name, coined by Malvern Esparcia (Bernie Bitokbitok/Tita B), also subtly referenced Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro's province. This marked a rebrand for ABS-CBN's provincial FM stations, with many undergoing format changes and adopting similar program titles across different areas on July 15, 2001. The MOR brand didn't reach Metro Manila until 2013, when DWRR-FM became its flagship station, solidifying MOR as a national brand.
On January 17, 2011, ABS-CBN launched MOR 99.9 in Palawan, marking a new chapter after 30 years as DYPR. MOR Palawan also operated a shared station, MOR 99.7 (now Radyo Bandera 99.7) in Sofronio Española, from 2011 until 2017.
On June 1, 2018, at a press conference at the ABS-CBN Compound, coinciding with the Manila station's ratings leadership and the announcement of the Pinoy Music Awards, the Manila Radio and Regional divisions agreed to relaunch MOR as MOR Philippines. This relaunch, which began on August 11, aimed to unify Manila and provincial stations with consistent program brands and music selections, encapsulated by the new tagline “One Vibe, One Sound.”[2]
On June 1, 2019, MOR stations in Manila, Cebu, and Baguio expanded their video streaming platforms, becoming exclusive channels on Sky Cable in their respective cities.
In the first quarter of 2020, MOR regional stations temporarily reduced their broadcast hours to 5:00 AM to 12:00 midnight daily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Network programming
Despite unified branding, MOR's programming was managed separately: Manila's station by ABS-CBN's Manila Radio division (which also ran DZMM Radyo Patrol 630) and Star Creatives, while regional programming fell under the company's Regional Network Group.
MOR Philippines launched on August 11, 2018, initially with the debut of MOR Regional's weekend programs, Dyis is It and MOR Presents. These shows premiered in Manila the following day. While the network aimed for unified branding and more national programming, these plans were ultimately shelved after ABS-CBN's terrestrial media assets ceased operations in 2020.
On March 22, 2020, MOR Philippines aired the Pantawid ng Pag-ibig: At Home Together Concert. This event aimed to provide assistance to those in need during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
Shutdown
On May 5, 2020, all MOR stations, along with ABS-CBN, S+A, and Radyo Patrol, suspended broadcasting activities due to a cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission. This followed their legislative franchise expiration on May 4, with TV Patrol serving as their final programming.[3]
On July 15, 2020, ABS-CBN announced widespread employee retrenchment effective August 31, following the House of Representatives' denial of their new franchise on July 10.[4] The next day, MOR Manila DJ Czarina Marie Guevara (DJ Chacha) confirmed on Failon Ngayon sa TeleRadyo that MOR Philippines would cease operations on the same retrenchment date.[5][6]
MOR Philippines, along with ABS-CBN Regional's 12 local TV Patrol and 10 local morning shows, ceased operations on the evening of August 28, 2020, instead of the previously announced August 31.[7][8][9][10][11][excessive citations]
Shift to online programming
On September 14, 2020, ABS-CBN rehired select DJs from the defunct MOR Philippines, including Manila-based ones, to relaunch MOR as a digital broadcast platform. This shift mirrors ABS-CBN’s move to digital with Kapamilya Channel and TeleRadyo, focusing on consolidated programming rather than mainly playing music, partly due to Facebook’s copyright limits. The new MOR emphasizes in-house Star Music tracks. Some programs returned with multiple hosts based on their regions, requiring Visayas and Mindanao hosts to use Tagalog for shows like MORe sa Umaga and Dear MOR.
Additionally, shows once exclusive to MOR Manila— except for Dear MOR (now Dear MOR Presents: Dear Popoy, aired across all MOR Facebook pages and MOR TV on Kumu)— were expanded to regional MOR pages, including Onsehan Na! and SLR: Sex, Love and Relationships.
MOR Entertainment (2021–present)
On February 14, 2021, ABS-CBN relaunched the service as MOR Entertainment with its programming being available on Facebook, Kumu, Spotify, YouTube and iWantTFC. It also streams live on iWantTFC, ABS-CBN Radio Service, Alto and Malaysian based app Syok.[12][13]
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Former MOR FM Radio Stations
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Before its forced shutdown on free-to-air FM radio, MOR broadcast through the following stations:
Note:
- ^ 1. Relay from MOR 103.1 Baguio.
- ^ 2. Inactive from 2017 to 2021 due to location.
- ^ 3. Now Radyo Bandera since 2021.
- ^ 4. Frequency now used by Anchor Radio 101.9 in San Pedro, Laguna.
- ^ 5. Now FMR Favorite Music Radio Baguio since 2021.
- ^ 6. Now FMR Favorite Music Radio Bacolod since 2021.
- ^ 7. Now Marian Radio CDO since 2024.
- ^ 8. Now Anchor Radio Davao since 2023.
- ^ 9. Now Newsline Central Luzon in San Fernando, Pampanga since 2022.
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Theme music
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The first theme music, recorded in English by Anna Fegi in 2001,[14] was updated in 2007 for MOR’s 6th anniversary with a pop-rock jingle, "Ang Gusto Ko, MOR," performed by Emman Abatayo of Pinoy Dream Academy. The original jingle was revived in early 2011, performed by artists like Erik Santos and Aiza Seguerra.
On July 7, 2013, MOR rebranded as a national brand and refreshed its theme, launching a new music video on ASAP 18.[15] The refreshed jingle, recorded in Filipino and English by Toni Gonzaga-Soriano, Vice Ganda, and Daniel Padilla, incorporated elements from DWRR-FM’s original jingle and the pre-2013 MOR jingle.[16] It was used until August 7, 2016, when a romance-themed version by Bailey May and Ylona Garcia[17] replaced it— mainly on the Manila station, while provincial stations used alternate jingles by Dennis Ba-ang (David Bang). By June 4, 2017, management reverted to the original 2013 jingle as the primary theme, retiring the newer version weeks later.
On July 21, 2018, ahead of its relaunch as MOR Philippines, a new network jingle debuted at the Pinoy Music Awards, blending the 2013 jingle with David Bang's regional stingers. The full version launched on September 24, 2018, featuring Toni, Vice, and Daniel. Two sub-versions were created, one without the “For Life” tagline for use by regional stations with local slogans.[18] This jingle is also used by MOR Entertainment.
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References
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External links
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