And then there was One…

By Thomas Nothel

The entire New York metropolitan area is soon to have only one news radio channel, as WCBS News Radio 880 is scheduled to shut-down.

880's owner Audacy Media announced that the radio station's all-news format and call letters will be retired at midnight on August 25th.

That will leave 1010 WINS as New York's only news radio channel.  

Audacity will be leasing the 880 AM frequency to Media Company Good Karma Brands

News 880 AM had been broadcasting as all News format covering the Tri state area, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut - for 57 years.

880 AM is a powerful 50,000KW Frequency heard in multiple states.

The 880 AM Frequency new Call letters will be WHSQ-AM, ESPN New York. The new format as 12:01 AM on Aug. 26 is all sports Talk.   

WHSQ-AM, ESPN New York was previously broadcasting as WEPN on 1050 am and 98.7 FM.  ESPN New York will end its use of the 98.7 FM signal on Aug. 31, 2024.

The station’s call letters change is pending FCC approval.

The new programming format takes place using a Local Marketing Agreement, under which the FCC allows a licensed station owner to lease use of the frequency to another entity.

The financial terms of the leasing arrangement have not been released. The leasing term is three years, according to reports.

Audacy owns the all-news station 1010 WINS which broadcasts on 1010 AM and 92.3 FM.   They will continue the same all News format serving the Tri state area, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The end of competitive news radio in New York echoes the devastation of news reporting more broadly, in what media observers call a "systemic collapse" in professional and reliable news reporting.