Station: DWRT FM
As 99.5 RT (1976-2006)
DZTR changed its call sign to DWRT-FM, moved to the 99.5 MHz frequency and branded itself as 99.5 RT in September 1976. Its studios were located for most of its existence on Ayala Avenue in the central business district of Makati, at one time in Pacific Bank Building. It was then originally owned and operated by Trans-Radio Broadcasting Corp. (currently operating Radyo Inquirer 990, Cebu's Y101, Davao's Rock 100.3, & Butuan's Majik 97.5, RT's original sister station). with owner Emilio Remedios Tuason, who also became one of the deejays (his on-air name was "ET"), until personal problems forced his retirement from the station in 1987.
99.5 RT became famous for playing the hits three months ahead of most other music stations because its programming philosophy did not pander to the masses nor cater to the lowest common denominator. It was more concerned with bringing the latest hits to the audience as soon as they were released by the artists. One of the most remembered examples of this was in the early 1980s when RT broke in the song "More To Lose" by the obscure English duo, Seona Dancing (one-half of which is the now famous lead actor and comic of the British television hit series The Office, Ricky Gervais). The station kept everyone guessing about the identity of the song by announcing the title as "Medium" and done by the artist "Fade", two words which were actually descriptions of the song: medium tempo with an ending that faded out.
Over the years, RT became popular with different slogans such as "The Rhythm Of The City" (1976–1996), "Red Hot Radio" (1983–1988), "Maximum Music" (1988-1996), "Source For The Best Hits" (1996–1998) and "Your Music Authority" (1998–2001), From 2001 - December 18, 2006 before it was rebranded, 99.5 RT's slogan was "The Most Hit Music".
RT was also home to some of America's popular hit countdown shows like American Top 40 and the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40. In the early 1980s (specifically 1983-1984), RT also ventured into the music-video business. As one of the pioneer music video shows in the Philippines, "Rhythm Of The City" which aired on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm on then government-owned MBS Channel 4 (now NBN Channel 4), showcased then ground-breaking videos from artists such as Men At Work, Naked Eyes, Real Life, Michael Jackson, and some of the best acts in North America during a time when then-fledgling MTV had not yet established its presence in the Asian region.
It is also known for its oldies show, 24K Friday playing the hits from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
It was also known as the first radio station in The Philippines to have ventured into having a home on the World Wide Web, launching its bulletin board in 1995.
On June 14, 1996, Trans-Radio sold RT to Supreme Broadcasting Corporation (now Real Radio Network Inc.) and moved to the Royal Match Building. Under new management, the station tried its best to maintain its upscale and niche-market on-air identity and programming format, unlike many other stations which reformatted after being sold.
On April 1999, it moved to its present location at the Paragon Plaza Building, along EDSA, Mandaluyong City.
Over the next few years, 99.5 RT's sound slowly became similar to other CHR radio stations in Manila. By 2004, most of its veteran DJs had left and were replaced by younger ones. During the period, programs like Up and Coming (a new music countdown show, which later split into two: RT Top 10 Biggies (daily) and the RT40 (weekly)), On the Decks (a dance show hosted and with live dance music mixes by Dj David Ardiente, which later became David's House), RT Sunday Sessions (where performed live in the radio station's studio), The Get Up and Go Show with Joe Schmoe, Alex and Lellie, Dinner and Drive Show (formerly known as Da Brainy Bunch), and The Playground with Da Kid, Lexi Locklear and BB Fred were developed. Beginning in 2004, RT put up an annual concert event called, "Ripe Tomatoes", featuring up to 30 OPM bands playing back-to-back on a single night.
In 2006, a corporate decision was made to rename RT to "HiT FM" starting January 2007. Thus, at midnight on December 18, 2006, the station signed off as the First iteration of 99.5 RT. For the next two weeks, the station played non-stop music, with occasional liners from the DJs, and teasers about the new station. On January 1, 2007, it officially signed on as HiT 99.5.
As Hit 99.5/99.5 Hit FM (2007-2008)
On January 1, 2007, Hit 99.5 signed on and presented almost-uninterrupted music programming with live announcers and its new programs officially debuted on January 8, 2007. The programming was essentially the same as RT's, but more content-driven rather than music oriented similar to sister station in Davao 105.9 Mix FM. It catered to a young audience, whose demographics included kids in high-school and college; from the aspirational to the affluent backgrounds. It used cutting edge production techniques and materials to accent the music with an upbeat and hip sound image that identified the station distinctly from competition. In August of that year, its on-air name was changed to 99.5 Hit FM.
The end of Hit FM
99.5 Hit FM signed off for the last time on Holy Wednesday, March 19, 2008. Some Hit FM jocks later moved to Jam 88.3 and Magic 89.9. The last song "Nice to Know You" by Incubus was played before the holy week.
As Campus 99.5 (2008)
Campus 99.5
The 99.5 frequency resumed broadcast as 99.5 Campus FM on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, with some of the announcers coming from Barangay LS 97.1 (formerly "Campus Radio 97.1") and some of the retained Hit FM jocks. The new incarnation of 99.5 reflected the spirit of the former Campus Radio. Early in May, 2008, it was renamed Campus 99.5. The on-air format was essentially the same, with familiar programs and segments and jocks from Campus Radio 97.1 re-introduced later on.
Collectively, the station's on-air announcers were known as the Campus Air Force, as they were with DWLS-FM.
Special programs
* Campus Classic Weekend - a whole day special format featuring classic songs from the 1990s and early 2000s, on Saturdays and Sundays, and the successor to Campus Radio's Retro Jam
o Revenge of the 80's - a special show on the Campus Classic Weekend heard on Sundays 8:00-9:00 a.m. and 6:00-7:00 p.m. presenting the memorable hits from the 1980s.
o Jazz Downbeat - a reincarnation of a jazz program on WLS-FM during the late 1980s, it plays 4 hours of non-stop jazz music, every Sundays from 8:00-12:00 M.N. Although its playlist dates back to the 1970s, it is considered a part of Campus Classic Weekend.
* Campus Aircheck - select students from Metro Manila colleges and universities are given a hands-on deejaying experience.
* The Top 20 at 12 - the longest-running countdown show in the Philippines and Asia, which started out with Kiss FM 101.1 (now Yes FM 101.1)(every Saturday from 12nn-2pm) in mid 1986 and was originally hosted by "George Boone" and "Jeremiah Junior" as co-host and Executive Producer. Then with 97.1 WLS-FM (weekdays at 12nn)hosted by "The Triggerman" in the 90's. On its return on April 25, 2008, "No Air" by Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown became the first #1 song on the weekly edition. "Damn Regret" by emo rock band The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus became the first daily #1 on April 29, 2008. Unlike in its previous home, the weekly countdown usually happens on Friday nights, at 10:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m., because of Campus Classic Weekend; the daily edition retains the 12:00-1:00 p.m. afternoon slot.
* Front.Center - where a certain singer or act is featured every month and is given preferential airplay by the hour with various songs. It was announced in July 2008.
Two programs from 99.5 Hit FM were retained for the Campus format:
* BrewRats - Ramon Bautista, Tado and Angel from the TV show, Strangebrew, in a three hour, anything goes radio show
* David's House - a Saturday night show with house music mixed live by David Ardiente.
The end of Campus FM
On the afternoon of August 14 at 4:00 pm, the management abruptly discontinued Campus 99.5, due to management difficulties. The station then switched to an automated all-music format with only pre-recorded station ID's played intermittently between songs. BrewRats! continued on its usual schedule until August 21, after which it went on a one week hiatus. On August 24, a new set of stingers announced that a new format and station image would be premiered in days.
Campus Radio revived on March 21, 2009 as an internet radio station.
The return of 99.5 RT (2008-present)
On September 1, 2008 at 6 a.m., after two weeks of automated music programming, the station resumed its broadcast under the reinstated name 99.5 RT. Joshua Z was the first DJ to go on board that morning, followed by other jocks who have worked with the frequency's three incarnations (mostly from the RT roster and HiT and one from Campus). The station initially reused its old and familiar slogan, "The Rhythm Of The City". The playlist is more progressive and experimental, attempting to sound like RT's first Iteration. The deejays have a collective tone similar to parent station, Magic 89.9, due to the use of Tagalog-English or "Taglish" during live spiels.
They also introduced its 2nd slogan, from 2009 - 2010, dubbing the station as playing "The Best Music on the Planet", which is now used in sister station in Davao, 105.9 Mix FM. For every Summer, it brought back the "Red Hot Radio" slogan, which was originally used from 1983 - 1988. Since 2010, they launched The Farm, an on air training program for the beginner jocks.
Since October 2010, RT began to play some Modern Rock music, earning its 3rd slogan, "The Drive", after the Sunday night-only program of the same name. It was a call for the demise of NU 107, which happened a month later. Ironically, they rarely play some songs from the late 90s and early 2000s, which are usually heard on 24K Weekend. However, CHR is still retained as its initial format. In June 2011, RT dropped "The Drive" in favor of its previous slogan "The Best Music on the Planet", as an attempt to bring back RT's old image.
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