Longtime CBS affiliate WCCO/830 (Minneapolis) has chosen ABC as the new source of its hourly newscasts as CBS prepares to shut down its radio network.
The 50kW Audacy station, formerly owned by CBS, made the announcement Thursday, May 21, the day before CBS is scheduled to air its final radio newscasts. The changeover happened at 3 p.m. Thursday.
A number of other Audacy stations, including WBBM/780 (Chicago), have also flipped from CBS to ABC.
ABC has not had a major presence on the Twin Cities radio dial since former longtime affiliate KSTP/1500 (St. Paul) switched to an All-Sports format in 2010. Since then, some of its newscasts had aired on Personality Talk station “myTalk 107” (KTMY Coon Rapids-Twin Cities).
CBS has been a core part of WCCO’s format since the 1930s. In making the announcement, WCCO Brand Manager Brad Lane acknowledged that the change may be jarring for listeners.
“I grew up listening to those tones, and I know how important it is, how nostalgic it is,” Lane said.
WCCO has been airing the first three minutes of CBS’ hourly six-minute newscast. Its announcement said it will air the first two minutes of ABC’s hourly news during the day, and the full five minutes in the evening and overnight.
Besides the hourly newscasts, ABC reporters will join WCCO hosts for longer interviews, and the station will air some ABC specials including “Press Play” on Memorial Day from 6 to 9 p.m.
Across the Upper Midwest, the switch to new networks varies widely, with stations also switching to FOX, NBC, Townhall News, and USA. Among bigger AM signals, KFGO/790 (Fargo) has switched to ABC while WNAX/570 (Yankton) is going with FOX.