Catholic Media Network, also known as CMN, is a Catholic radio network in the Philippines.[1] CMN serves as the broadcasting arm of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines.[2]
 | |
| Formerly | Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters (PFCB) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Unit 201 Sunrise Condominium, #226 Ortigas Ave., North Greenhills, San Juan City, Philippines |
Key people | Fr. Francis Lucas (President) |
| Owner | Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) |
| Website | www |
History
CMN was known as the Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters (PFCB), a radio network founded through the efforts of Fr. James Reuter, SJ and Fr. George Dion, OMI in 1966.[3] The radio network was owned and operated by different Catholic broadcast media corporations.[1]
In 1997, the name was changed to the Catholic Media Network to suit the network's mission and also the new slogan "The Spirit of The Philippines".
In October 2017, the House of Representatives threatened not to renew the 25-year franchise of the CBCP's broadcast radio operations (including some of the CMN member stations), citing criticism on the Duterte administration over war on drugs. However, CMN's de facto flagship station DZRV, was not part of it as it is operated by CBCP's affiliate Global Broadcasting System, which its franchise was already renewed by the Aquino administration a year earlier.
Eventually, in July 2019, CBCP broadcast franchise was renewed for 25 years after its respective bill was lapsed into law as President Rodrigo Duterte did not signed it within the period set by the Constitution.[4]
Content
CMN content varies depending on the station from which it is being broadcast. Stations broadcast news, sports, radio drama, and other programs. As a network, CMN's mission statement is to use community-based broadcasting to promote New Evangelization and human development.[1] Content is anti-abortion, catholic, and community oriented.[1]
Stations
CMN has 54 radio stations across the Philippines and its broadcasts reach 11 regions and 35 provinces. It is the largest broadcaster in the Philippines, in terms of total number of stations and transmitting power per station.[1][5][6]
Most of its stations are operated by their respective dioceses either through CBCP or their dioceses' own media arms. These stations, along with its diocesan licensees and affiliates, form the network chain and these individual stations credit their promotions as "members of" and not "owned by" CMN.
AM stations
CMN's AM stations are grouped as Radyo Totoo, with the exception of DWAL in Batangas. Several provincial stations have their own local branding other than Radyo Totoo.
FM stations
CMN's FM stations are grouped as Spirit FM. Prior to 1997, these stations had their unique local branding. Majority of these stations carry a hybrid of masa & religious formats while some carry their own music formats (whether religious, Top 40 or country) and even a few function as an overflow station of their AM sister. Similar to its sister AM network, a few stations still operate under their own local branding other than Spirit FM.
| Branding | Callsign | Frequency | Power | Location | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit FM Abra | DWWM | 96.9 MHz | 5 kW | Bangued | Abra Community Broadcasting Corporation |
| Spirit FM Alaminos | DWTJ | 99.3 MHz | 20 kW | Alaminos | Alaminos Community Broadcasting Corporation |
| 99.9 Country | DZWR | 99.9 MHz | 10 kW | Baguio | Mountain Province Broadcasting Corporation |
| Manaoag Dominican Radio | — | 102.7 MHz | 500 W | Manaoag | Manaoag Dominican Broadcasting |
| Spirit FM Bayombong[a] | DZRV | 90.1 MHz | 5 kW | Bayombong | Roman Catholic Diocese of Bayombong |
| Bright FM | DWBL | 91.9 MHz | 1 kW | San Fernando | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando |
| Radio Maria | DZRM | 99.7 MHz | 10 kW | Tarlac City | Radio Maria Philippines Network |
| DZRD | 101.5 MHz | 5 kW | Tuguegarao | ||
| DZRC | 102.1 MHz | 5 kW | Santiago | ||
| DWCX | 95.9 MHz | 5 kW | Olongapo | ||
| Spirit FM Baler | DZJO | 101.7 MHz | 5 kW | Baler | Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of Infanta |
| Spirit FM Infanta | DWJO | 92.7 MHz | 1 kW | Infanta | |
| Spirit FM Occidental Mindoro | DZVT | 93.7 MHz | 5 kW | San Jose | Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose in Mindoro |
| Spirit FM Calapan | DZSB | 104.1 MHz | 10 kW | Calapan | Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan |
| Spirit FM Gumaca | DWDG | 91.7 MHz | 1 kW | Gumaca | Roman Catholic Diocese of Gumaca |
| Spirit FM Lucena | DWVM | 103.9 MHz | 10 kW | Lucena | Roman Catholic Diocese of Lucena |
| Spirit FM Batangas | DWAM | 99.1 MHz | 5 kW | Batangas | Radyo Bayanihan System |
| Radyo Totoo Batangas | DWAL | 95.9 MHz | 1.5 kW | ||
| Mother's Touch[a] | DWRV | 98.3 MHz | 5 kW | Naga | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cáceres |
| Spirit FM Legazpi | DWCZ | 94.7 MHz | 5 kW | Legazpi | Diocesan Multi-Media Services, Inc. |
| Spirit FM Sorsogon | DZGN | 102.3 MHz | 10 kW | Sorsogon City | Good News Sorsogon Foundation |
| Spirit FM Masbate | DZIM | 98.3 MHz | 5 kW | Masbate City | Roman Catholic Diocese of Masbate |
| XFM Iloilo[b] | DYOZ | 100.7 MHz | 10 kW | Iloilo | Ang Dios Gugma Ministries |
| Spirit FM Calinog[a] | DYMI | 94.7 MHz | 5 kW | Calinog | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro |
| Spirit FM Antique | DYKA | 94.1 MHz | 5 kW | San Jose | Kauswagan Broadcasting Corporation |
| Spirit FM Roxas | DYCW | 88.1 MHz | 5 kW | Roxas City | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Capiz |
| Power 89.1 Cebu | DYDW | 89.1 MHz | 10 kW | Cebu City | Word Broadcasting Corporation |
| Power 90.3 Ormoc | DYAJ | 90.3 MHz | 5 kW | Ormoc | |
| Spirit FM Davao | DXGN | 89.9 MHz | 10 kW | Davao City | Davao Verbum Dei Media Foundation, Inc. |
| Cool Radio | DXDD | 100.7 MHz | 5 kW | Ozamiz | Dan-ag sa Dakbayan Broadcasting Network |
| Marian Radio[c] | DXFO | 103.9 MHz | 10 kW | Cagayan de Oro | Birhen sa Kota Catholic Broadcasting |
| Spirit FM Malaybalay | 107.3 :MHz | 5 :kW | Malaybalay | Roman Catholic Diocese Of Malaybalay | |
| Spirit FM Mati | DXDV | 97.5 MHz | 5 kW | Mati | Roman Catholic Diocese of Mati |
| Happy FM Cotabato | DXOL | 92.7 MHz | 5 kW | Cotabato City | Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation |
| Happy FM Koronadal | DXOM | 91.7 MHz | 5 kW | Koronadal | |
| Happy FM Kidapawan | DXDM | 88.7 MHz | 5 kW | Kidapawan |
CMN Radio
Notable diocesan/regional licensees and affiliates
- Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (Cotabato/Oblates of Mary Immaculate)
- Word Broadcasting Corporation (Cebu/Society of the Divine Word)
- Global Broadcasting System (Manila/Archdiocese of Manila)
- Radio Maria Philippines (Northern Luzon/Radio Maria)
International affiliations
References
- ^ a b c d e "The Official Website of The Catholic Media Network". Archived from the original on July 9, 2007. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ^ KBP Members (see Mabuhay Broadcasting System profile) Accessed on July 10, 2019
- ^ Kismadi, Gloria C. (November 15, 2017). "A Brief Biography". In Aquino, Cherry Castro (ed.). Remembering James B. Reuter, SJ. Mandaluyong: Anvil Publishing, Inc. ISBN 9786214201150. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "TV5, CBCP franchise extension bills lapse into law —Malacañang │ GMA News Online".
- ^ "NTC AM Radio Stations via FOI website" (PDF). foi.gov.ph. August 23, 2022.
- ^ "NTC FM Stations (as of June 2022) via FOI website" (PDF). foi.gov.ph. February 14, 2023.