After 60 years, WCBS — Newsradio 88 in New York — is over.
Their parent company, Audacy, which barely exists anyway, has destroyed a New York standard bearer.
Maybe as early as today, WCBS — including the call letters — will be replaced by an ESPN sports station.
That leaves New York with just one all news station. WINS continues to operate at 1010AM, but that will change soon, too. Little by little, WINS has been identifying itself as 92.3 FM. Audacy will pull the plug on WINS 1010AM soon, trust me.
As a devoted listener to both stations, I am outraged. I’m sure I’m not alone. But to be honest, Audacy has managed to screw everything up. But there’s no advertising. These stations all rely on garbage bottom feeding ads from things like Balance of Nature, and other non FDA approved snake oil for various ailments.
WCBS 880 will broadcast a live commemorative special, “WCBS 880 News: The People, the Moments, and the Events that Shaped our Lives,” on Aug. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The special edition of “Newsline” with Brigitte Quinn will include interviews and historical clips.
A disgraceful and ignominious end for the gold standard in local news broadcasting.
