Twin Cities Radio: WCCO Radio Switches to ABC News Affiliate

WCCO Radio (830 AM) will become an ABC News affiliate for the first time in its history, effective Thursday afternoon, May 21, 2026, after nearly a century as a CBS News Radio partner.

The move comes as CBS News Radio airs its final broadcasts on Friday, May 22, ending 99 years of national service and more than 90 years of providing network news to Minnesota listeners. Station Brand Manager Brad Lane announced the change live during Thursday’s WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar.

“So I will tell you, that after conducting a full evaluation of all of the options available, WCCO Radio will be moving to ABC News this afternoon,” Lane said. “Our plan is hopefully, fingers crossed and all the technical wires are pieced together, we will move to ABC News starting at 3:00 this afternoon.”

ABC News will deliver top-of-the-hour updates all day, every day. The newscasts will run two minutes long instead of the traditional three-minute CBS reports, with five-minute updates at night. Listeners will hear new national anchors and correspondents, including Sherry Preston, Alex Stone, Karen Travers, and Jim Ryan.

WCCO will also gain full long-form breaking news coverage, access to ABC reporters on major stories, and special programming such as presidential debates, election coverage, and holiday specials. The first ABC holiday special, “Press Play,” airs Memorial Day from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Lane acknowledged the change will feel jarring for longtime listeners but emphasized continuity of quality national and international coverage. “You will not miss a beat in terms of coverage of things,” he said. “We will partner with them when it comes to huge breaking news stories across the country or internationally. You guys will have access to the reporters on the ground.”

WCCO’s relationship with CBS dates back to the network’s early years. CBS purchased a one-third interest in the station in 1929 and full ownership in 1932 from General Mills. Network programming began appearing regularly on WCCO in 1937.The station learned in March 2026 that CBS News Radio would shut down due to economic pressures and shifting audience habits. Hundreds of affiliates nationwide are now transitioning to new network partners.

While Lane described the end of the CBS partnership as a sad moment, he expressed excitement for the new chapter with ABC. “There’s nothing we could do about it,” he said. “We have to move on, and we have to have a partner in this from the national and international perspective. And ABC is now our next best option.”