CBS News Shutters its Storied Radio News Service After Nearly a Century
CBS News announced Friday it will shut down its long-running radio news service, bringing an end to a broadcast institution that has operated for nearly 100 years. The network cited financial pressures and the continued shift toward digital platforms and podcasts as key reasons behind the decision.
The service, which first went on air in September 1927, predates the broader CBS network and helped launch the media career of William S. Paley. Over the decades, it became a defining force in American journalism, delivering breaking news and top-of-the-hour updates to hundreds of affiliate stations nationwide.
A Legacy That Helped Define Broadcast Journalism
CBS News Radio played a central role in shaping how Americans consumed news throughout the 20th century. Legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow’s reports from London during World War II brought the realities of Nazi bombings directly into American homes, while radio coverage of major historical moments kept the public informed in real time.
Photo/Washington State University/The Columbian via AP)
The service also carried pivotal announcements, including updates during the civil rights movement and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Veteran anchor Dan Rather, who followed Walter Cronkite as the face of CBS News, recalled a time when radio reporting held equal weight to television.
“Radio was considered an equal responsibility to television,” Rather said, reflecting on an era when he filed reports multiple times a day.
Economic Pressures and Industry Shifts
CBS News Radio currently provides content to roughly 700 stations across the country. Despite its reach, the network confirmed the service will officially end on May 22.
CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss told staff the company had explored multiple options to sustain the operation but ultimately could not find a viable path forward.
“Radio is woven into the fabric of CBS News and that’s always going to be part of our history,” Weiss said. “We did everything we could… to try and find a viable solution.”
The shutdown follows earlier cuts to radio programming, including the cancellation of “Weekend Roundup” and “World News Roundup Late Edition” in late 2025.
Job Cuts and Broader Industry Turmoil
The closure comes alongside wider layoffs at CBS News, with the company cutting about 6% of its workforce, or more than 60 employees. It remains unclear how many of those losses are directly tied to the radio division.
The move also arrives during a period of broader upheaval in the media industry. Paramount Global, CBS News’ parent company, is expected to absorb CNN as part of its planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, signaling further consolidation across the news landscape.
End of an Era for American Radio News
For many in the industry, the shutdown marks more than a business decision. It represents the fading of a medium that once defined how Americans experienced news.
“Given the way things are going, I was saddened but I wasn’t surprised,” Rather said.
Radio, once the dominant source of information from the 1920s through the 1940s, has steadily declined in influence as audiences moved to television, then to digital platforms. Today, many listeners seeking audio news turn to podcasts instead.
Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, called the loss significant for both journalism and the country.
“This is another part of the landscape that has fallen off into the sea,” Harrison said. “It’s a shame. It’s a loss for the country and for the industry.”
For decades, CBS News Radio was considered a gold standard, known for its credibility, reach, and consistency. Its disappearance underscores a broader transformation in how news is produced, distributed, and consumed in the modern era.
