Bulletin: CBS News Radio shutting down

 

As reported by numerous outlets, CBS is shutting down their entire radio operation. It's one of several cost-cutting moves intitiated by Bari Weiss, who took over as the Editor-in-Chief of CBS News last October. In a memo sent to staffers from Weiss and CBS President Cibrowski, the decision reflects the continued transformation of the network's news operation:


Bari Weiss, Tom Cibrowski

Today, we informed our CBS News Radio team and approximately 700 affiliated stations that we will end the service on May 22, 2026.

Unfortunately, this decision means that all positions within the CBS News Radio team are being eliminated. We understand how difficult this news is for our staff and their colleagues, who have worked side by side with us to cover some of the most significant stories of our time.

While this was a necessary decision, it was not an easy one. A shift in radio station programming strategies, coupled with challenging economic realities, has made it impossible to continue the service. We are sharing this announcement now to fulfill our commitments to our radio partners and affiliates, which require advance notice of the service’s conclusion.

For nearly 100 years, CBS News Radio has delivered original reporting to the nation-from Edward R. Murrow’s World War Il reports in London to today’s daily White House updates. Our signature broadcast, “World News Roundup,” remains the longest-running newscast in the country. CBS News Radio served as the foundation for everything we have built since 1927.

The coming weeks will be difficult for the team members who have worked tirelessly at CBS News Radio. We are committed to supporting these valued colleagues with care and respect as we wind down operations. They have been critical to our success and remain treasured friends and professionals. We thank them deeply for their contributions.

Thank you all for your dedication and for the compassion you show one another as we move forward.

Bari and Tom

Radio Insight obtained a copy of the memo sent to CBS News Radio affiliates specifying the details of the shutdown of the radio network, including "(p)lease be advised that CBS News Radio will discontinue operations effective May 22, 2026 (the 'Discontinue Date') and will no longer produce or provide the Programs thereafter."

Audacy's Minneapolis affiliate, News / Talk WCCO, offered a bit of additional history about the CBS Radio network. Some of their story:

Many of the largest radio stations in America, from WCCO in Minnesota, to WBBM in Chicago, KCBS in San Francisco, and 1010 WINS in New York, were CBS affiliates going back to 1929.

CBS voices for decades have brought some of the biggest news stories to listeners all across the country, from Pearl Harbor to the JFK assassination, from 9/11 to the current war in Iran. Those voices now will go silent in May.The front page of CBS News' website did not immediately carry news of the demise.

Weiss is not a stranger to CBS' storied history. Addressing her staff in January, three months into her job as CBS News boss, she invoked the network's legendary newsman Walter Cronkite as a symbol of old thinking and said that if the network continues with its current strategy, “we’re toast.”

For some, this was inevitable when CBS sold all of their radio properties to Entercom, now known as Audacy. At the time, CBS Chairman Les Moonves was quoted as stating radio had "no growth potential."

There is no official comment from Audacy, the owners of KNX and other news and information outlets across the US, including sister station KCBS which offers overnight programming locally on KNX. In addition to the top-of-the-hour news, CBS News Radio offered their affiliates stories and sound from their reporters which were exclusive to radio. 

We'll keep you posted on what else we learn.

ayodaradio@gmail.com


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