WCBS (AM)

WCBS-AM 880 is a Class A 50,000 watt radio station broadcasting from New York City featuring an all-news format. WCBS, the flagship station of the CBS Radio Network, is owned by Infinity Broadcasting; a company that manages 180 stations in 40 markets spread over 22 states.

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Even though WCBS has been broadcasting as WCBS since November 2, 1946, its history goes back to 1924 when Alfred Grebe started WAHG 920 AM. WAHG was a radio pioneer and was one of the first commercial radio stations to broadcast from remote locations including horse races and yachting events. Two years later, in 1926, Alfred Grebe changed the call sign to WABC after concluding a business arrangement with the Ashland Battery Company and moved his studios to W. 57th St, not the last time the station would operate from 57th St. In 1928 the station moved to 970 AM and became a part time affiliate of the Columbia Broadcasting System who was looking for a full time radio presence in New York City. After a short time broadcasting CBS programming 3 days a week, CBS president William S. Paley purchased WABC and it became a subsidiary of CBS.

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Soon after this purchase the station moved to a new frequency, this time 860 AM. The station also moved its studios into the building CBS occupied on Madison Ave. The station, still operating as WABC, featured a mix of local interest programming, ethnic content and music shows from CBS?s national feed. As time went by WABC turned more and more to the national programming provided by CBS and its affiliates, and its broadcast day was influenced by CBS?s growing interest in news programming. In 1941 WABC moved to the frequency it currently occupies, 880 AM, and soon after World War II changed its call letters to WCBS.

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Over the next 20 years WCBS developed a series of radio soap operas, afternoon talk shows and an all night music show sponsered by American Airlines. During this time WCBS featured well-known personalities including Arthur Godfrey, future CBS News President Bill Leonard, author Emily Kimbrough and folk singer Oscar Brand.

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During the 1960s CBS Chairman William Paley was concerned about the stations low ratings and started a process that would lead to a highly successful all-news format that would become known as Newsradio 88. This format debuted on August 27, 1967 (although on WCBS' FM station, as a small airplane had crashed into, and destroyed its transmitter just a few hours earlier) and its original roster of anchors included Charles Osgood and Pat Summerall. Newsradio 88 finished its transformation into an all-news format in 1970 when Arthur Godfrey's weekday variety show Music Till Dawn ended in January of that year.

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In October of 2000, WCBS made another move, this time from CBS corporate headquarters at 51 West 52nd Street in Manhattan (Black Rock) to the CBS Broadcast Center at 524 West 57th Street. Its transmitter is located on High Island in The Bronx, New York.

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In 2001 WCBS won the rights to carry radio broadcasts of the New York Yankees, which the station had previously carried from 1960 to 1966 (prior to its conversion to an all-news format).

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