DWAO-TV

DWAO-DTV is a digital television station based in Metro Manila, Philippines, and the flagship outlet of the UNTV network. The station is owned by Progressive Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), associated with businessman Alfredo “Atom” Henares, while its principal operations are conducted by Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI), led by veteran broadcaster Daniel Razon, through an airtime lease arrangement. The station’s programming and public identity are generally presented under the UNTV brand rather than under the technical callsign DWAO-DTV. The service began on July 16, 2001, as UNTV-37, a UHF television venture of PBC. In its earliest phase, it functioned as a television counterpart to PBC’s NU 107 radio station and concentrated on rock and alternative-rock music videos. It developed a niche audience through programs such as the comedy and reality show Strangebrew and the program In the Raw. During 2004, the station moved away from its original music-video orientation as its airtime arrangements changed. It began carrying religious programming associated with the Members Church of God International, including Ang Dating Daan, which became a long-running part of the station’s identity. The station’s later development was shaped by BMPI’s operational involvement. In 2007, BMPI acquired the network’s main operations and relaunched UNTV around a public-service positioning. This change broadened the channel beyond religious programming and established a schedule combining news, public-service initiatives, entertainment, and religious content. The network subsequently used the labels UN Television, UNTV, UNTV Life, and, from 2016, UNTV News and Rescue. The latter repositioning emphasized news gathering, emergency assistance, and public-service programming while retaining the slogan “Your Public Service Channel.” UNTV expanded from a small studio at AIC Gold Tower in Ortigas Center, Pasig, first moving to Damayang Lagi in New Manila, Quezon City, in 2006 and then to a larger facility at 907 Philam Homes along EDSA in 2008. The network also developed a transmitter complex in Antipolo, Rizal, replacing its former tower at Crestview Heights and supporting improved signal reception. In 2013, it introduced DJI Phantom aerial drones for live news reporting and launched a mobile application for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Its digital and online distribution has included terrestrial digital television, satellite carriage, website streaming, a 24-hour YouTube livestream, and mobile access. The station has operated as a 24-hour free-to-air service, although terrestrial broadcasting has historically included a regular Monday-morning maintenance interruption. Its digital broadcast is identified with UHF channel 38 at 617.143 MHz. A new UNTV Broadcast Center was announced through a groundbreaking ceremony on June 26, 2014, along EDSA near TriNoma in Quezon City. The broader UNTV ecosystem also included the BMPI operation of the 107.5 MHz FM station, launched as Wish FM in 2014 and later known as Wish 107.5, although that radio outlet is distinct from DWAO-DTV. On January 1, 2025, UNTV ended its analog transmission on UHF channel 37. The station’s planned flash cut of its digital signal to the former analog channel was reported as not yet completed at that point. DWAO-DTV therefore represents the technical broadcast entity behind a Philippine television brand whose public profile has evolved from alternative-music programming into a hybrid news, public-service, entertainment, and religious network.

DWAO-DTV originated on July 16, 2001, when Progressive Broadcasting Corporation entered UHF television with UNTV-37. The station was conceived as the television counterpart of PBC’s NU 107 radio service and initially aired rock and alternative-rock music videos. Early programs including Strangebrew and In the Raw helped it establish a distinctive niche audience. The station’s format changed substantially in 2004. Its music-video schedule was gradually reduced and ultimately abandoned after new airtime arrangements were introduced. Religious programming associated with the Members Church of God International was added, including Ang Dating Daan. The program became a durable part of UNTV’s schedule after moving from another television outlet. UNTV subsequently adopted the expanded name UN Television while developing a broader programming mix. During its early years, UNTV operated from a small one-room studio at AIC Gold Tower in Ortigas Center, Pasig. Growth in programming and public-service activity led to a move to Damayang Lagi in New Manila, Quezon City, in 2006. In 2007, Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International, led by broadcaster Daniel Razon, took over the network’s principal operations through an airtime lease arrangement. BMPI relaunched the station as a public-service channel, increasing the importance of news, community assistance, entertainment, and religious content. The network moved again in 2008 to its own building at 907 Philam Homes along EDSA in Quezon City. It developed a 24-hour broadcasting model, subject to a recurring terrestrial-transmitter maintenance interruption early on Monday mornings. UNTV also invested in transmission and digital-distribution infrastructure. In 2013, it stopped using its former tower at Crestview Heights Subdivision in Antipolo and began using a digital-ready transmitter at the UNTV Transmitter Complex in Emerald Hills, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo. The facility was shared with the network’s associated FM operation. That year, UNTV also introduced DJI Phantom drones for live news reporting and launched a mobile application supporting access to the television feed and Radio La Verdad 1350 kHz. A new UNTV Broadcast Center was announced at a June 26, 2014 groundbreaking ceremony. The planned facility was located along EDSA near Ayala Land’s TriNoma mall and close to the network’s existing building. The BMPI broadcasting group also expanded its radio involvement in 2014 by taking over operations of the 107.5 MHz FM service, which was launched as Wish FM and later became Wish 107.5. UNTV changed its public branding several times as its programming strategy developed. On August 26, 2015, it became UNTV Life, accompanied by a new logo. On July 18, 2016, it was rebranded as UNTV News and Rescue, presenting the network as a global news and rescue organization. The station divided its output into UNTV News and Rescue and UNTV Public Service blocks while keeping the slogan “Your Public Service Channel.” The station’s distribution has included analog and digital terrestrial television, satellite carriage, website streaming, a continuous YouTube livestream, and mobile applications. Its digital terrestrial service is identified with UHF channel 38 at 617.143 MHz and reaches Metro Manila and nearby provinces, with additional satellite availability in multiple regions outside the Philippines. On January 1, 2025, UNTV ended analog transmission on UHF channel 37. The reported plan to move or flash cut the digital signal to the former analog channel had not yet been completed, leaving DWAO-DTV primarily associated with the network’s digital broadcast operation.

• 2025

  Analog shutdown

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  UNTV ended its analog broadcast on UHF channel 37 while continuing its transition to digital distribution.

• 2016

  UNTV News and Rescue rebrand

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  UNTV repositioned itself around news, rescue, and public-service programming.

• 2015

  UNTV Life rebrand

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the UNTV Life identity and introduced a new logo.

• 2014

  UNTV Broadcast Center groundbreaking

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The network held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new broadcast center along EDSA near TriNoma.

• 2013

  Digital transmitter and aerial-news expansion

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  UNTV began using a digital-ready transmitter in Antipolo and introduced DJI Phantom drones for live news reporting.

• 2008

  Move to the Philam Homes facility

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  UNTV transferred to its own building at 907 Philam Homes along EDSA in Quezon City.

• 2007

  BMPI operational takeover and public-service relaunch

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International assumed the network’s main operations and repositioned UNTV as a public-service channel.

• 2006

  Move to Damayang Lagi

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved from its initial small studio to a larger site in Damayang Lagi, New Manila, Quezon City.

• 2004

  Programming transition toward religion and general broadcasting

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  UNTV moved away from its original music-video format and added Members Church of God International programming, including Ang Dating Daan.

• 2001

  Launch of UNTV-37

  [1]DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org

  Progressive Broadcasting Corporation launched the UHF television station that became the UNTV network, initially focusing on rock and alternative-rock music videos.

A Philippine public-service television network combining news, emergency and rescue coverage, community assistance, entertainment, and religious programming.

• Digital television service

  UNTV digital terrestrial television

  The station’s core broadcast service is a digital terrestrial television feed associated with UHF channel 38 at 617.143 MHz. It serves Metro Manila and surrounding Philippine provinces, with programming spanning news, public service, entertainment, and religious content. The service follows the UNTV brand rather than presenting the technical DWAO-DTV callsign as its consumer-facing identity.

• News and public-service programming · 2016

  UNTV News and Rescue

  UNTV News and Rescue is the network identity introduced in 2016 to emphasize news gathering, rescue-related coverage, and assistance-oriented public-service programming. The branding organizes the station’s output around a news-and-rescue block alongside a separate public-service block, while retaining UNTV’s long-standing community-service positioning.

• Internet video service

  UNTV online streaming

  UNTV distributes its broadcast feed through its website and a 24-hour YouTube livestream. The online service extends access beyond terrestrial coverage and complements the network’s satellite and mobile distribution. The station has also documented methods for accessing its stream through media-player software.

• Mobile application · 2013

  UNTV Mobile App

  Launched in 2013, the UNTV Mobile App provided users with access to the UNTV broadcast feed and Radio La Verdad 1350 kHz. It was made available for Apple iOS, Google Android, and Windows mobile and tablet devices, subject to an internet connection.

• Religious television program

  Ang Dating Daan

  Ang Dating Daan, translated as The Old Path, is a religious program associated with the Members Church of God International. It became a long-running component of UNTV’s schedule after the station adopted religious programming during its mid-2000s transition away from a primarily music-video format.

• 2025

  Analog-to-digital transitionGeneration change

  Background

  UNTV operated both an analog UHF service and a digital television service during its transition to digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  The station ceased analog broadcasting on UHF channel 37 on January 1, 2025.

  Aftermath

  The planned flash cut of the digital signal to the former analog channel had not yet been implemented according to the cited reference.

  Source

• 2016

  UNTV News and Rescue rebrandingGeneration change

  Background

  UNTV had previously used the UNTV Life identity and sought to clarify its role in news and public service.

  Action taken

  The station adopted the UNTV News and Rescue name and divided its programming into news-and-rescue and public-service blocks.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand reinforced UNTV’s positioning as a public-service broadcaster while preserving its established slogan.

  Source

• 2013

  Move to a digital-ready transmission facilityGeneration change

  Background

  UNTV sought improved reception and a stronger technical foundation for digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  The station discontinued use of its former Antipolo tower and began using the UNTV Transmitter Complex in Emerald Hills, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo.

  Aftermath

  The new facility supported the station’s digital television development and was shared with the associated Wish FM radio operation.

  Source

• 2007

  Public-service-channel relaunchStrategy

  Background

  Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International became responsible for the network’s main operations under an airtime lease arrangement.

  Action taken

  BMPI relaunched UNTV as a public-service channel, expanding emphasis on news, community assistance, entertainment, and religious programming.

  Aftermath

  Public service became the central positioning of the UNTV brand and remained reflected in its slogan and later news-and-rescue identity.

  Source

• 2004

  Shift from music television to a mixed religious and general formatStrategy

  Background

  UNTV’s original identity was built around rock and alternative-rock music videos, but its airtime arrangements changed and the station progressively reduced that format.

  Action taken

  The station abandoned the rock-oriented music-video focus and added Members Church of God International programming, including Ang Dating Daan, while developing a broader television schedule.

  Aftermath

  The change established the programming direction that preceded UNTV’s later public-service positioning.

  Source

1. 1DWAO-DTVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2UNTV official websiteuntvweb.com