Radio Philippines Network, Inc. (RPN) is a Philippine television and radio company based in Quezon City. It is the flagship media property of Nine Media Corporation of the ALC Group of Companies; along with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and Far East Managers and Investors Inc. (owned by the family of company founder Roberto Benedicto), among others, as major shareholders. The network's main offices and transmitter is located at Panay Avenue, Brgy. South Triangle also in Quezon City. Founded by Roberto Benedicto and prior to its privatization, it was the sister station of current government owned and controlled Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation and formerly an attached agency of the now-PCO, despite having 20% minority stake in ownership. Radio Philippines Network operates television stations with airtime being leased by its parent Nine Media, serving as primary broadcasters of CNN Philippines, a local franchise of the Cable News Network. RPN also operates regional AM radio stations under the brand Radyo Ronda, serving as partial affiliate of sister station DWIZ in Metro Manila. History As Kanlaon Broadcasting System (1960–1975) Early years (1960-1972) Radio Philippines Network was founded on February 25, 1960, with the Congress of the Philippines approved its franchise on June 19, 1960. Instead of using its franchise name, the network instead first used Kanlaon Broadcasting System as its initial branding. Kanlaon is a volcano on the Philippine island of Negros, the home of its founder Roberto Benedicto. Kanlaon Broadcasting System started broadcasting as a radio network with its first station DZBI in Manila. By 1967, KBS had expanded operations with seven radio stations all over the country, namely, DZRR and DZAX in Manila, DZBS in Baguio, DZTG in Tuguegarao, DZRL in Laoag (later moved to Batac), DXXX in Zamboanga and DXDX in Dadiangas. Philippine radio veteran Ben Aniceto was the operations director at the time. The network began broadcasting for television on October 15, 1969, with the launch of KBS-9 Manila as the network's flagship TV station. KBS-12 Baguio also went on air in the same year. In 1970, KBS also acquired a color-ready production truck (OB van) for the remote broadcasts of major news events and sports coverages. The network also pioneered newscasting on television, as they launched the first ever newspaper-format nightly newscast titled NewsWatch. Back then, broadcast hours were limited to late afternoons up to around midnight; except for Sundays, when the channel begins transmissions after midday. In 1971,