WCBS-AM To End All-News Format And Become ESPN New York

WCBS-AM 880 is dropping its all-news format and instead will become the new home of ESPN New York.

Audacy, the owner of the New York station, announced the change Monday, one that leaves WINS-FM as the only all-news format station in the nation’s largest market. The changes are effective on August 26.

“The headwinds facing local journalism nationwide made it essential to strategically reimagine how we deliver the news for the most impact,” Chris Oliviero, New York market president of Audacy, said in a statement.

According to the Writers Guild of America East, 23 members were laid off.

Audacy will continue to own the 880 frequency, but as part of the deal with Good Karma Brands, which runs the ESPN radio network, the call letters of WCBS will be changed to WHSQ-AM.

The station has had an all-news format since 1967, when it was launched at the urging of CBS founder William S. Paley. In 2017, CBS merged its radio stations with Entercom, which later changed its name to Audacy.

Audacy will continue to serve as the exclusive rights holder of the New York Mets, and games will continue to air on 880.

The WGAE said in a statement, “The closure of WCBS Newsradio 880 is another example of consolidation by a major media conglomerate, which ultimately deprives the public of critical local news stories with different perspectives. Audacy’s decision is even more egregious given that this is a critical election year. This is a giant loss for New York City and the news industry at large.”

WINS-FM — marketed as 1010 WINS at 92.3 FM — also is owned by Audacy.

Oliviero said that 1010 WINS@92.3FM “moves forward as New York’s only 24/7 all-news station with the best distribution platform, the largest audience and the most recognized brand in the industry. All-news is a pillar of Audacy and this decision, though difficult, fortifies that leadership position for generations to come.”