DZGB Legaspi 729 khz AM Bicol

DZGB Legaspi 729 khz AM Bicol

PBN Broadcasting Network, Inc., is a Bicolano media network that consists of three commercial AM stations, two FM stations and two television stations.

Established by Jorge Bayona in 1958 when the people of Legazpi City the province of Albay had never heard of radio, except from faint broadcast signals from Metro Manila stations, PBN pioneered the broadcast industry in the Bicol region by operating the first “cable radio station, “Radyo Balagon”, under the banner of Bicol Wire Broadcasting System (BWBS), the parent company of what PBN Broadcasting Network, Inc. is today.

HISTORY:
At the height of its popularity, "Radyo Balagon" as it was fondly called by its subscribers, initially served 3,000 households in Legazpi City and the neighboring town of Daraga. With the continuous increase of subscribers, its area of coverage was expanded to the 1st district of Albay via a cable-relay station in the city of Tabaco.

With the success of BWBS, and although technology was still on its infancy in the 60’s, Bicol Wire Broadcasting System evolved into People’s Broadcasting System (PBS) with the establishment in 1960 of DZGB-AM, the pioneer commercial radio station in Legazpi City. For over 40 years, DZGB-AM reigns on top of delivering news, information, live special events coverage, public affairs programs and entertainment to the Bicolanos. DZGB-AM is already an institution to speak of. No wonder it was awarded the “BEST PROVINCIAL AM STATION NATIONWIDE” by the prestigious KBP Golden Dove Awards for Radio & Television in 2000.

DZGB proved to be the first string of AM stations. Subsequently, a sister station purely dedicated to news and music was opened and named DZGM, the first AM station to adopt an FM programming of less talk, more music. On June 24, 1970, DZMD-AM was inaugurated in Daet, Camarines Norte. Two years later, another station, DZMS-AM started broadcasting in the Province of Sorsogon. The household name of People’s Broadcasting System became People’s Broadcasting Network (PBN) to reflect its founder’s intent to serve its fellow Bicolanos regionwide.

The declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 1972 was the darkest moment in broadcast history. All radio and TV stations nationwide were shut down and PBN was among the casualties. However, PBN’s status as the most credible network in the Bicol Region was affirmed. DZGB Legazpi was immediately allowed to resume its broadcast operation one day after the shut down order, followed by DZMD Daet, Camarines Norte two days later and DZMS Sorsogon after a week.

In 1987, 97.1 OK-FM Legazpi aired its maiden broadcast. Barely six months after, it made history when it dominated the local surveys as the most listened to FM station in the area. PBN was on the move. It was not long before everyone realized that the momentum created by these turn of events would prove unstoppable.