Full Breakdown
CBS News Radio Signs Off After Nearly a Century
5/23/2026, 11:48:04 AM
Final Broadcast Ends a Historic Service
On May 22 2026, CBS News Radio aired its last newscast at 11:31 p.m. ET, ending service to roughly 700 U.S. stations, including WCBS-NY, WBBM-Chicago and KCBS-San Francisco. The program closed with Edward R. Murrow’s iconic sign-off, “Good night, and good luck,” followed by a brief “CBS News special report. I’m Christopher Cruz” (some outlets reported the anchor as Christopher Cruise).
Historical Roots
Founded in 1927 as United Independent Broadcasters, the network was bought by William Paley in 1930 and rebranded as CBS. Paley hired Ed Klauber and Paul White, who launched the first “World News Roundup” on March 13 1938, featuring Murrow’s wartime reports. The roundup remains the longest-running network newscast.
Decision Makers and Rationale
In March 2026, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski announced the shutdown, citing “a shift in radio station programming strategies” and “challenging economic realities.” The move followed budget cuts imposed by Paramount Skydance, which acquired CBS’s parent company in August 2025.
Scale, Reach, and Recognition
The service delivered hour-by-hour news updates to about 700 affiliate stations nationwide and aired the “World News Roundup,” the longest-running newscast since 1938. In 2024, Allison Keyes earned a Gracie Award for her “CBS News Weekend Roundup” program.
Impact and Industry Reaction
The closure removes a trusted hour-by-hour source for millions, reduces the diversity of national audio journalism, and arrives amid broader consolidation—Paramount’s later acquisition of CNN—and a shift toward digital platforms, raising concerns about concentration of the “voice” that reaches American listeners.
Criticism
The Writers Guild of America, East called the decision “a single reckless and shortsighted decision,” warning that 26 union members would lose jobs. Deadline’s Ted Johnson argued CBS missed an opportunity to pivot the brand to podcasts and streaming, undermining a “recognizable brand” in a fast-changing market.
Veteran Reflections
Former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather described radio as “a kind of magic carpet” that carried listeners through historic moments. Marvin Kalb, 95, said, “Every time that I could do a piece for the roundup, I felt honored. It wasn’t just a job. It was a calling.” Allison Keyes highlighted the service’s real-time coverage of the 9/11 attacks as a hallmark of unfiltered reporting.
Conflicting Details
Sources differ on the final anchor’s name—Christopher Cruz in Deadline versus Christopher Cruise in TheWrap—and on the network’s age, with some citing 99 years and others “nearly 100 years.” No public breakdown of the exact financial shortfall driving the closure has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “While this was a necessary decision, it was not an easy one,” — Bari Weiss, internal memo
- “America’s longest running newscast signs off for the last time.” — Steve Kathan, anchor
- “Every time that I could do a piece for the roundup, I felt honored. It wasn’t just a job. It was a calling.” — Marvin Kalb, journalist
Outlook
CBS will guide former affiliates toward alternatives such as ABC News. Paramount Skydance plans to expand its streaming portfolio and integrate CBS content with upcoming CNN assets, while observers watch how the consolidation reshapes national audio journalism.
