Audacy has announced a licensing deal with Good Karma Brands in which the company will move the programming of “ESPN New York” 98.7 WEPN-FM to 880 WCBS effective August 26.
The LMA will see 880 end its 57 year run with all-News just two days shy of its anniversary and change call letters to WHSQ. All of the content currently heard on 98.7 WEPN-FM will move to 880, with the station retaining New York Mets baseball. The deal takes effect as Good Karma’s lease with Emmis Communications for 98.7 comes to an end.
Audacy New York Market President Chris Oliviero stated, ““New York has always been proudly unique in supporting two all-news radio brands, but the news business has gone through significant changes. The headwinds facing local journalism nationwide made it essential to strategically reimagine how we deliver the news for the most impact. 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 WINS@92.3FM, 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.”
Audacy will continue to program News on 1010 WINS/92.3 WINS-FM with the company stating, “Since the FM launch, 1010 WINS@92.3FM’s listenership has grown significantly in numbers and geographic reach, with a distribution platform better suited to go deeper into the surrounding Tri-State suburbs of Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester and Connecticut. Across FM, AM and digital platforms, nearly two million people a week come to 1010 WINS@92.3FM to get their news, traffic and weather.”
WCBS will host a special edition of “Newsline” hosted by Brigitte Quinn on Thursday, August 22 to pay tribute to the history of the station. “WCBS 880 News: The People, the Moments, and the Events that Shaped our Lives” will air from 10am to 1pm with interviews and historical clips.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com