CBS News Radio ended its broadcasting service on Friday, May 22, 2026, with a final newscast at 11:31 p.m. [1], [3].
The closure marks the end of a nearly century-long era for one of the most influential news distributors in the U.S. As a primary source of information for hundreds of local stations, the service's disappearance alters the landscape of traditional terrestrial radio news.
The network began its operations in 1927 [2]. Based at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, the service provided news content to approximately 700 affiliate stations across the United States [3], [4].
CBS announced the decision to close the service in March 2026 [2]. The company said challenging economic conditions were the reason for the shutdown [2]. The move follows a broader trend of media consolidation and the shift toward digital streaming and podcasts—a transition that has pressured traditional radio business models.
The final reports aired on Friday, May 22, 2026 [1]. The sign-off concluded decades of broadcasting that established the standard for national radio journalism and helped define the medium's role in American civic life.
“CBS News Radio ended its broadcasting service on Friday, May 22, 2026”
The shutdown of CBS News Radio reflects the accelerating decline of the traditional affiliate model in broadcasting. By removing a centralized news feed that served 700 stations, the move likely forces local affiliates to either produce more original content or rely on fewer remaining national networks, potentially reducing the diversity of news sources available to rural and local audiences.
