The End of an Era: WCBS 880 Radio Signs Off After 57 Years

After 57 years of delivering breaking news, political updates, and subway delays to New Yorkers, WCBS 880 radio will send its final transmission at midnight on Sunday. The station, which has been a staple of New York's all-news format, will relaunch as WHSQ-AM ESPN New York on Aug. 26, leaving 1010 WINS as the only remaining all-news format station in the New York market. WCBS 880 has been a driving force in covering the mayor and city council, with its former chief political reporter, Steve Flanders, suggesting that journalist Rich Lamb audition for a job there. Lamb, who went on to spend 43 years at the station, covered a wide range of stories, from murders and fires to plane crashes and subway strikes. He also hosted the weekly 'Ask the Mayor' radio program, which started under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and continued through Mike Bloomberg’s tenure.

The station's closure will result in the loss of more than 20 staff members, according to the Writers Guild of America East. The guild has denounced the closure as 'another example of consolidation by a major media conglomerate, which ultimately deprives the public of critical local news stories with different perspectives.' The station's passing will mark the end of a golden era of news radio in the Big Apple, leaving many New Yorkers to turn to other sources for their news and information. Despite the headwinds facing local journalism nationwide, WCBS 880 has remained a trusted source of news for millions of New Yorkers. Its impact on the city and beyond will be felt for years to come, and its legacy will live on through the countless stories it has told

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