Audacy and Good Karma Brands (GKB) have entered into a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA) effective August 26. As part of the LMA, GKB will be responsible for the programming heard on 880 AM and will use it as the new home of ESPN New York, replacing the current WCBS all-news format. Audacy will continue to own the frequency and, pending FCC approval, change the call letters to WHSQ-AM.
As the nation’s leader in news radio, Audacy will now focus its commitment to delivering premium news content to Tri-State listeners exclusively on 1010 [email protected] FM, the most-listened-to news radio station in the country and the only 24/7 all-news brand in the New York market.
Audacy New York will continue to serve as the exclusive rights holder and flagship audio home of the New York Mets. Audacy-produced broadcasts will continue to air on 880 AM and stream on the Audacy app.
“New York has always been proudly unique in supporting two all-news radio brands, but the news business has gone through significant changes,” said Chris Oliviero, New York Market President, Audacy.
“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 [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.”
Audacy expanded the reach of 1010 WINS, now in its seventh decade, with a simulcast on 92.3 FM in October 2022. Since the FM launch, 1010 [email protected]’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 [email protected] to get their news, traffic and weather.
To honor WCBS 880’s meaningful impact, the station will broadcast a live commemorative special, “WCBS 880 News: The People, the Moments, and the Events that Shaped our Lives,” on August 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. This special edition of “NEWSLINE” with Brigitte Quinn will include interviews and historical clips.
Listeners can tune into 1010 [email protected] (WINS-FM/AM) in New York on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.