DWSS-AM explained

Abante
Callsign:DWSS
City:Quezon City
Country:PH
Area:Metro Manila and surrounding areas
Branding:Abante
Affiliations:Abante TV
Bilyonaryo News Channel
K5 News FM
Airdate:1975
Frequency:1494 kHz
Former Frequencies:1380 kHz (1975–1978)
Format:News, Public Affairs, Talk
Language:Filipino
Licensing Authority:NTC
Power:10,000 watts
Class:B (Regional)
Callsign Meaning:Sandigan ng Sambayanan
(former branding)
Former Names:K-Love (1993–1996)
Owner:FBS Radio Network
Licensee:Supreme Broadcasting System
Operator:Prage Management Corporation
Sister Stations:Through FBS: DWBL
Through Prage: Mellow 94.7 BFM
Webcast:Abante Facebook Page
Abante on YouTube
Website:Abante

DWSS[1] (1494 AM), broadcasting as Abante, is a radio station owned by Supreme Broadcasting System and operated by Prage Management Corporation. The station's studio is located at 60 P. Tuazon Boulevard, Barangay Bagong Lipunan, Cubao, Quezon City, while its transmitter is located along Coloong 1 Road, Barangay Coloong, Valenzuela, Metro Manila.

Several programs of Abante are also aired on Abante TV on SkyCable Channel 85, Converge Channel 79, Samsung TV Plus, TCL Smart TVs and through selected K5 News FM stations in the Philippines, Blast TV, kAPPitbahay app, Amasian TV (for North America)[2] and on its digital streaming channel DWAR Abante Radyo on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.

Profile

The station was established by Masscom Network of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines in 1975 as DWEE. Back then, it was situated on 1380 kHz. In November 1978, it transferred to 1494 kHz due to the adoption of the 9-kHz spacing for medium wave stations per the Geneva Frequency Plan of 1975 (aka GE75), and changed its call letters to DWXY. Sometime in 1980, it was acquired by RADIO Inc. (Radio Corporation of the Philippines) and changed its call letters to DWCJ. The station was located at the now Philippine Christian University campus in Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila. The station then aired the programs similar to the past KZKZ.[3]

In 1988, Ultrasonic Broadcasting System bought the station and changed its call letters to DWLR.[4] It relocated to SYSU Building in Quezon City, Metro Manila. In 1993, it changed its call letters to DWSS and switched to airing Christian music under the name 1494 K-LOVE. Considering the owner's strong family religious background, this was their 1st venture into religious programming way before launching Saved Radio on Energy FM in the 2000s. In 1996, Manny Luzon took over the station's operations and revamped DWSS as a blocktime station with the tagline Sandigan ng Sambayanan.

In 2004, DWSS was sold to FBS Radio Network in exchange of the latter's stations in Dagupan and Cebu.[5] Due to ownership restrictions, its license was assigned to FBS subsidiary Supreme Broadcasting System.[6] Following the trade's consummation, the station transferred to Paragon Plaza in Mandaluyong. It was once home of Nar Pineda, Ducky Paredes, Ruben Ilagan and other Powerhouse Broadcasters since the demise of the old DZXQ (now Radyo La Verdad) in March 2011,[7] as well as the Tagalog-language broadcast of Family Radio during evenings.

In March 2020, at the height of the pandemic, DWSS went off the air. A couple of months later, most of its programs transferred to DWBL.

In May 2024, Prage Management Corporation, owner of tabloid newspaper Abante, took over the station's operations. On July 8, 2024, it went on the air on test broadcast as Abante Radyo. It serves as the terrestrial extension of Abante Teletabloid, the paper's digital news service which was launched in 2022. In mid-2025, it was renamed as Abante to reflect on the radio station's growing presence on cable TV, streaming and social media.

Since August 15, 2025, some programs of Abante, along with Bilyonaryo News Channel's flagship newscast Agenda, began airing on selected K5 News FM provincial stations after inking a partnership agreement with the network's operator 5K Broadcasting Network.[8]

On February 8, 2026, DWSS, and its sister station DWBL announced that it would go off-air for a month starting February 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (PST) until March 10, 2026, as the station undergoes an upgrade of its transmitter to improve coverage. Cable and online streaming will remain unaffected.[9]

Notable on-air personalities

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Authorized Broadcast Stations (AM) - June 2025. National Telecommunications Commission. July 29, 2025. July 29, 2025.
  2. News: Abante-Bilyonaryo Group expands reach to North America via Amasian TV deal. Politiko. December 25, 2025. December 30, 2025.
  3. https://books.google.com/books?id=fOoeAQAAMAAJ The Asian Press and Media Directory
  4. https://books.google.com/books?id=dpobAQAAMAAJ Mass Media Infrastructure in the Philippines (August 1988)
  5. Web site: OneRadioManila.com . September 7, 2018 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100323062510/http://www.oneradiomanila.com/index.php/about-us/our-credentials . March 23, 2010 .
  6. Web site: Republic Act No. 9186. 16 January 2003.
  7. Web site: Ducky Paredes: Kaibigan Inc. . October 16, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160318132859/http://www.duckyparedes.com/blogs/2011/03/02/kaibigan-inc/ . March 18, 2016 . dead .
  8. News: Abante, K5 News FM nagsanib-puwersa!. Abante TNT. August 15, 2025. August 15, 2025.
  9. Web site: Janer . Rose Ann . 2026-02-08 . DWAR 1494 AM broadcast pansamantalang off-air simula Pebrero 9 . 2026-02-08 . en-US.