WHSQ, known today for its sports radio format as part of ESPN Radio, has undergone a significant transformation in its programming over the decades. For 57 years, the station was a cornerstone of news broadcasting in New York City, operating as WCBS with a dedicated all-news format. This long-standing identity as a primary source for news eventually gave way to a new era focused on sports, reflecting broader trends in radio and media consumption.
The shift highlights the station's adaptability and its continuous effort to remain relevant in a changing broadcast landscape.
The All-News Era: A CBS Legacy
The station adopted its all-news format in 1967, under its then-call sign WCBS. This move was a pioneering effort and part of a larger strategic initiative by CBS Radio to convert its group of AM stations to news programming. WCBS quickly became a direct competitor to WINS (1010 AM), another prominent all-news station in New York. The success of WCBS in this format paved the way for other CBS-owned stations across the country to follow suit. KCBS in San Francisco, KNX in Los Angeles, and WBBM in Chicago all transitioned to all-news in 1968, with WEEI in Boston and WCAU in Philadelphia adopting the format in subsequent years.
While the programming shift was gradual, with stations initially retaining some local and network non-news content, the commitment to news became central. In cities like Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, CBS-owned stations held a monopoly on the all-news format. However, in New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, CBS stations faced stiff competition from Westinghouse-owned stations (WINS, KFWB, and KYW, respectively) that had introduced all-news programming even earlier. Despite the competitive environment, WCBS established itself as a stable and successful all-news outlet. Its operations moved from CBS corporate headquarters to the CBS Broadcast Center in 2000, and later to the Hudson Square Broadcast Center in 2011, where it continued its news-focused broadcasts, branding itself as "Newsradio 880."
The Transition to Sports and ESPN Radio
The long-standing all-news format of WCBS came to an end in August 2024, after 57 years. Audacy, the station's owner, announced that it would cease WCBS's all-news programming and enter into a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Good Karma Sports (GKS). This agreement led to the station adopting a sports format, becoming part of the ESPN Radio network and taking on the WHSQ call sign. This change also involved subsuming the programming of WEPN-FM, as GKB's LMA for that station with Emmis Communications had expired.
Under its new identity as WHSQ, the station broadcasts a mix of local and ESPN Radio national programming. A notable aspect of its current programming is its role as the flagship station for the New York Mets Radio Network. The rights to Mets broadcasts are held by Audacy, not Good Karma, meaning these broadcasts are not part of the LMA, and Audacy handles the advertising sales during Mets games. The station is actively promoted by Audacy as "Mets Radio 880." Outside of Mets games, the associated stream on the Audacy app carries Westwood One Sports programming. This strategic pivot from a decades-long news focus to a dedicated sports format marks a significant chapter in the station's history, aligning it with the popular ESPN Radio brand and catering to a passionate sports audience in the New York metropolitan area and beyond.
