CBS News Radio will shut down at the end of May after 99 years, parent company Paramount Skydance announced Friday, citing economic pressures and shifting audio consumption habits that have made the network unsustainable.
The closure marks the end of one of the most influential institutions in broadcast journalism, as the network—once a proving ground for figures like Edward R. Murrow—has been reduced in recent years to a small, unprofitable operation with only a handful of correspondents, according to a person familiar with the company.
Paramount said the decision reflects changing programming strategies at radio stations and broader industry challenges. In a memo to staff, CBS News leadership said it had become “impossible to continue the service” despite its historic role as the foundation of the organization since 1927.
Even so, radio still reaches 93% of U.S. adults, according to Nielsen, particularly among commuters. Until now, CBS News Radio provided national reporting and short-form updates to roughly 700 affiliate stations across the country, many of which will now need to find alternative sources for news content.
Media observers say the shutdown also signals the fading of a long-standing public service model in broadcasting. Former “60 Minutes” producer Lowell Bergman noted that networks like CBS News Radio were built on an early agreement to provide free, responsible journalism when radio first emerged as a mass medium.