Rant #3,412: Radio, Radio

When I was a teenager, when I wanted to hear the news on the radio, I turned to WCBS 880, the all-news station that was around with some type of news format since 1967.

I also listened to WINS 1010, but WCBS was my go-to station for news for me, and millions of others in the Metropolitan New York area.

Things change ... the Internet is king now, and while the stations on AM amd FN radio still continue to have plenty to offer to listeners, I think a lot of people--and a lot of younger people, the latter of which is where the money is--have turned to the Internet to get their news.

I personally don't think this is a good thing, but that is not the point of this Rant.

The point is that in something of a surprise announcement, WCBS 880 will soon be no more, with its station position--and strong signal--taken over by ESPN.

There are a lot of politics involved with this major change to the New York radio airwaves, but let's just say that WCBS and WINS are owned by the same company, so it was felt that it was redundant to have two all-news stations under one umbrella, so one was sacrificed to make the other somewhat unique.

Also, the 880 dial position is a good one, and ESPN will now be in that position for its sports radio presentations, still a very lucrative part of the radio business.

And what's more, the "W-C-B-S" call letters will be retired with this change.

It os pretty sad, but changing listening patterns have changed New York City radio, and radio in general.

WCBS was changing itself before today's announcement.

To be honest with you, it began changing years ago when it started carrying New York Yankees games on its schedule, and this has.lasted into the present, as the New York Mets succeeded the Yankees there ... and from what I hear, the team will stay put there when it changes over to ESPN.

Again to be honest with you, I haven't listened to the station in years, and I am sure millions of others can say the same thing.

The entire AM radio format has been questioned for its continued viability in recent years.

There was an uproar when some car manufacturers were not including AM radio in their new cars, but I believe there is legislation in place, or at least pending, requiring car makers to include the format, because it is better for emergency announcements than FM radio is, with a much wider range of coverage.

Whatever the case, another classic radio station is about to bite the dust. 

There really isn't much more to say about this, but even though I haven't listened to the station in years, its passing kind of hit me hard when I heard about it.

Another one bites the dust ... and which station is next to go?

Radio was the most reliable place to get the latest and most up-to-date news, but I don't think it is anymore.

And the Internet isn't either ... so there is a news void that certainly needs to be filled.

What will, or can, fill it is anyone's guess.