CBS Radio
CBS News Radio was a broadcast news division of Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) that supplied hourly newscasts and breaking news coverage to approximately 700 affiliate radio stations across the United States, operating from 1927 until its shutdown in March-May 2025 as part of Paramount's cost-cutting measures.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CBS Radio does
CBS News Radio was a division of CBS Corporation (subsequently part of Paramount Global, NASDAQ: PARA) that supplied broadcast news content to approximately 700 affiliate radio stations across the United States. Founded in 1927, the service pioneered American broadcast journalism, producing landmark coverage including Edward R. Murrow's live European reports during World War II and creating the country's longest-running news program, the CBS World News Roundup. Its core technology consisted of broadcast radio news transmission, delivering hourly newscasts and breaking news coverage through a network of affiliate partners. Revenue was derived from advertising sales and affiliate station fees rather than direct consumer pricing, exposing the business to secular declines in the U.S. radio advertising market, which contracted from approximately $20 billion in 2006 to roughly $13 billion in 2023.
CBS News Radio ceased operations on March 20, 2025, with an official sign-off on May 22, 2025, ending nearly a century of continuous broadcast. The shutdown was executed by Paramount Global as a cost-cutting measure ahead of its pending Skydance merger, accompanied by layoffs affecting roughly 6% of CBS News workforce (60 to 70 positions). Bari Weiss was cited as the decision-maker overseeing the dissolution, which drew criticism from media veterans. The broader CBS entity continues to operate as a television network and streaming platform (Paramount+) under Paramount Global, but the radio news distribution business itself has been wound down rather than repositioned.
CBS Radio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CBS Radio
- Legal name
- Paramount
- Website
- https://cbsradio.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- CBS News Radio was a broadcast news division of Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA) that supplied hourly newscasts and breaking news coverage to approximately 700 affiliate radio stations across the United States, operating from 1927 until its shutdown in March-May 2025 as part of Paramount's cost-cutting measures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CBS Radio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- News & Public Affairs Syndication (MPABAMAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG), News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI)
Keywords
Where CBS Radio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
CBS Radio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels1 record
CBS Radio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CBS Radio operated a broadcast news radio network that produced and distributed hourly newscasts and breaking news coverage to approximately 700 affiliate radio stations across the United States. The service included the CBS World News Roundup — America's longest-running news program — and supplied national and international journalism content wholesale to radio stations rather than reaching consumers directly. CBS News Radio ceased operations on March 20, 2025 (officially signed off May 22, 2025) as part of Paramount Global's cost-cutting measures.
Product overview
CBS operates as a major American broadcast television network offering a platform-plus-services architecture. The core product is the CBS Television Network (cbs.com), which distributes primetime, daytime, late night, and classic television programming. Supporting the network are multiple streaming channels including CBS News 24/7, the 60 Minutes Channel, CBS Sports HQ, CBS Sports Golazo Network, 48 Hours, Judge Judy, Hot Bench, and Inside Edition—all available via live TV streaming. CBS News provides national news coverage, CBS Sports delivers sports programming including NFL and UEFA Champions League, and Paramount+ serves as the subscription streaming platform for CBS content. CBS News Radio, a historic nearly 100-year-old radio service, was shut down in March 2025 as part of Paramount Global's cost-cutting measures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CBS News Radio News radio network that supplied hourly newscasts and breaking news coverage to approximately 700 affiliate radio stations across the United States. The service operated as a division of CBS News within Paramount Global until its shutdown in March 2025.
- CBS World News Roundup America's longest-running news program, produced by CBS Radio and distributed to affiliate stations as part of its hourly newscast lineup. The program ended with the shutdown of CBS News Radio in 2025.
Companies that use CBS Radio
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CBS Radio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CBS Radio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
CBS Radio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media owns ~400 radio stations and runs the Westwood One syndication network, broadly comparable to legacy CBS Radio's combination of owned stations and syndicated distribution.
- Audacy (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio): Audacy is the second-largest US radio operator and is the direct descendant of CBS Radio, having acquired the CBS Radio station portfolio in 2017 - comparable as a major-market radio station operator with similar audience reach.
- iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US radio operator with 800+ stations and a national content/distribution platform that overlaps broadly with CBS Radio's historical major-market footprint and affiliate infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Westwood One (Cumulus Media): Westwood One is the largest radio network in the US, distributing news, talk, sports, and entertainment programming to thousands of affiliate stations - directly comparable as a multi-format radio syndicator with affiliate relationships.
- ABC News Radio: ABC News Radio syndicates newscasts to radio affiliates across the United States, offering near-identical hourly newscast and breaking news coverage products to local stations - the most direct network-broadcaster peer to CBS News Radio.
- Salem Radio Network: Salem Radio syndicates news and talk content to hundreds of radio affiliates across the US, comparable in scale and syndication mechanics to CBS News Radio's ~700 affiliate base.
- NPR (National Public Radio): NPR is the dominant non-commercial radio news network in the US, distributing hourly newscasts and breaking news to member stations nationwide - directly comparable in distribution architecture to CBS News Radio's affiliate network model.
- USA Radio Network: USA Radio Network provides syndicated news and talk programming to radio affiliates in the US, operating the same hourly newscast distribution model as CBS News Radio.
- Associated Press Radio: AP Radio distributes national and international newscasts and audio reports to radio affiliates across the US - the closest direct functional analogue to CBS News Radio's hourly newscast syndication model.
Emerging players
- Compass Media Networks: Compass Media Networks is a smaller radio syndicator providing news, talk, and entertainment content to US radio affiliates - overlapping with CBS News Radio's syndication model at smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
CBS Radio social profiles
Digital presenceCBS Radio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CBS Radio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CBS Radio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CBS Radio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CBS Radio
What does CBS Radio do?
CBS Radio operated a broadcast news radio network that produced and distributed hourly newscasts and breaking news coverage to approximately 700 affiliate radio stations across the United States. The service included the CBS World News Roundup — America's longest-running news program — and supplied national and international journalism content wholesale to radio stations rather than reaching consumers directly. CBS News Radio ceased operations on March 20, 2025 (officially signed off May 22, 2025) as part of Paramount Global's cost-cutting measures.
Is CBS Radio a public or private company?
CBS Radio is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently closed.
When was CBS Radio founded?
CBS Radio was founded in 1927. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is CBS Radio based?
CBS Radio is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
Who are CBS Radio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cumulus Media, Audacy (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio) and iHeartMedia. Direct peers are Westwood One (Cumulus Media), ABC News Radio, Salem Radio Network, NPR (National Public Radio), USA Radio Network and Associated Press Radio. Compass Media Networks is listed as an emerging player.
Does CBS Radio have an API?
No public API is recorded for CBS Radio.
What industry is CBS Radio in?
CBS Radio's product category is Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAMAF, News & Public Affairs Syndication, with a secondary code of MPAIAEAG, Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication. Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.