August 25 will be the end of an era in New York radio. WCBS 880 will no longer be an all-news station after that day. On August 26, the 880 call letters will switch to WHSQ (pending approval) and the programming on the station will be that of ESPN New York, who is leaving its former station WEPN-FM 98.7.
In New York and on the streaming service Audacy, there were two all-news stations: 1010 WINS and WCBS. Now, there will be just one—1010—over-the-air and on Audacy.
Chris Olivero, Audacy New York Market president., provided the following commentary:
“WCBS 880 has been one of the most respected radio stations in history, with a legacy cemented by the hundreds of world-class journalists, on and off the air, who willed it into existence over the decades. If it happened in New York or the world, you heard about it on WCBS 880. Today, 1010 [email protected], equally iconic, 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.”
It will be hard to forget the coverage WCBS provided during many key news events in the New York area, such as September 11th and the blackouts of 1977 and 2003.
What Does This Mean for The Mets?
Well, basically nothing. Mets baseball will continue at 880 AM; it will no longer be WCBS. Mets’ legendary broadcaster Howie Rose had this to say on X:
Okay, nothing changes for Mets Radio, but today is a very sad day nonetheless. This is about people. There are so many both on air and behind the scenes who will be impacted, people who have worked tirelessly to compile and disseminate news and information for many years. (More)
— Howie Rose (@HowieRose) August 12, 2024
His broadcast partner, Keith Raad, had this to say on X:
First off, Mets broadcast is not going anywhere. We are still going to be found on 880, Audacy app, MLB app, etc.
Second, it’s been an unbelievable privilege to say “WCBS” out loud on a nightly basis. So much reverence and respect for the legacy that this station built. https://t.co/8Q85OCouEv
— Keith Raad (@KeithRaad) August 12, 2024
WCBS first hit the airwaves in August of 1967 as an all-news station. It had quite a run, spanning 57 years. While there will be no impact on Mets’ fans, it’s sad to see the end of the iconic WCBS. As Howie Rose said above, many people will be impacted, and AM radio in New York will not be the same later this month.
