(AP) CBS News announced Friday that it will shut down its historic radio news service after nearly a century of operation, bringing a close to a defining chapter in broadcast journalism amid tough economic conditions and the industry’s shift toward digital platforms and podcasts.
The service, which first took to the airwaves in September 1927, served as the foundation for the entire CBS network and launched the career of a young William S. Paley. During World War II, Edward R. Murrow’s gripping rooftop dispatches from London amid the Nazi Blitz captivated American listeners and helped cement CBS’s reputation for excellence in reporting.In recent years, CBS News Radio has supplied content to roughly 700 affiliate stations nationwide, most notably its signature top-of-the-hour news summaries. The operation will cease on May 22. (abcnews.com)
“While this was a necessary decision, it was not an easy one,” CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski said in a memo to staff. Weiss added that “Radio is woven into the fabric of CBS News and that’s always going to be part of our history.” (wtop.com)
The closure is part of broader cost-cutting measures at the network, including staff layoffs.
CBS Radio possible outcomes
Jason Remington • March 27, 2026
So, what happens when CBS News Radio goes away, and 700 affiliates (including KIRO) have to fill empty airtime?
The LA Times looked at KNX, which is a 24-hour news station that relies on CBS News Radio.
“KNX was owned by CBS until 2017. The New York-based Audacy, under its previous name Entercom, acquired the CBS radio stations in 2017. KNX and the other Audacy news stations such as WBBM in Chicago, KCBS in San Francisco and WWJ in Detroit remained CBS affiliates, carrying the hourly CBS newscasts. The Audacy all-news outlets, which reach around 9 million listeners a month, provided about one-third of U.S. coverage for CBS News Radio, the most of any station group carrying the service.”
— Media writer Stephen Battaglio
“The vast majority of our news and talk programming remains original and locally produced, and we are beginning conversations with other national news providers to ensure our listeners continue to have access to world-class programming they value and trust.”
Chris Oliviero, Audacy chief business officer
Possible options: ABC News Audio and Fox News Media.
As Battaglio observed: “While Fox News Radio delivers straight reporting, the service is likely to find a home on some of the conservative talk stations that are currently CBS News affiliates.”