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{{about|the radio group|the radio network|CBS Radio Network}}
{{short description|American radio broadcasting company}}
{{about|the radio group|the radio network|CBS News Radio}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox Company
{{More citations needed|date=April 2013}}
| name = CBS Radio, Inc.
{{Infobox company
| logo = [[File:CBS Radio logo (lower res).png]]
| name = CBS Radio Inc.
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| logo = CBS Radio logo.png
| genre =
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = 1928 <br>1997 burned out (relaunched as Infinity Broadcasting) <br>2005 (relaunched as CBS Radio)
| industry = [[Radio broadcasting]]
| founder =
| fate = Acquired by Entercom (now [[Audacy, Inc.]])<ref name="entercom-8k-20171116"/>
| location_city = [[New York City]], [[New York]]
| predecessor = [[Infinity Broadcasting]]<br>[[Westinghouse Broadcasting]]
| location_country = [[United States|USA]]
| successor = Entercom (now Audacy, Inc.)<ref name="entercom-8k-20171116"/>
| location =
| area_served = Nationwide
| locations =
| key_people = Andre Fernandez, president and chief executive officer
| area_served = {{USA}}
| owner = <!-- Don't add the Entercom name here due to the assets of this company that have been acquired by the former company and as a result, this company was dissolved. -->
| key_people =
| parent = <!-- Don't add the Entercom name here due to the assets of this company that have been acquired by the former company and as a result, this company was dissolved. -->
| industry = [[Radio broadcasting|Radio Broadcasting]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1928}} <small>(Foundation of CBS)</small> <br /> {{start date and age|1997}} <small>(relaunched as [[Infinity Broadcasting]])</small> <br /> {{start date and age|2005}} <small>(relaunched as CBS Radio)</small>
| products =
| defunct = {{end date and age|November 17, 2017}}
| services =
| location_city = 345 Hudson Street<br />[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|N.Y.]] 10014
| revenue =
| location_country = U.S.
| operating_income =
| former_name = [[Infinity Broadcasting]] (1997–2005)
| net_income =
| owner = [[CBS Corporation]]
| num_employees =
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| slogan =
| homepage = [http://www.cbsradio.com cbsradio.com]
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
}}
'''CBS Radio''' was a radio broadcasting company and radio network operator owned by [[CBS Corporation]] and founded in 1928, with consolidated radio station groups owned by CBS and [[Westinghouse Broadcasting|Westinghouse Broadcasting/Group W]] since the 1920s, and [[Infinity Broadcasting]] since the 1970s. The broadcasting company was sold to Entercom (now known as [[Audacy, Inc.]]) on November 17, 2017.<ref name="entercom-8k-20171116">{{cite web |author=Entercom Communications Corp. |title=Form 8-K |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1067837/000119312517344727/d460737d8k.htm |publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission |date=November 16, 2017 |access-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref>
'''CBS Radio, Inc.''', formerly known as '''[[Infinity Broadcasting Corporation]]''', is one of the largest owners and operators of [[radio station]]s in the [[United States]], fourth in size behind main rival [[Clear Channel Communications]] (which owns many of the radio stations previously owned by former [[CBS]] parent [[Viacom (1971-2005)|Viacom]] before 1997), [[Cumulus Media]] and [[Citadel Broadcasting]] and second in terms of revenue. The [[corporation]] owns around 130 radio stations across the country. It is currently part of the [[CBS Corporation]], which also owns [[CBS|CBS Television]] and the [[CBS Radio Network]], and jointly owns the [[The CW Television Network|CW]] [[television network]].

Although CBS's involvement in radio dates back to the establishment of the original [[CBS Radio Network]] in 1927, the most recent radio division was formed by the 1997 acquisition of [[Infinity Broadcasting]] by CBS owner [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]].In 1999, Infinity became a division of the original [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]]; in 2005, Viacom spun CBS and Infinity Broadcasting back into a separate company, and the division was renamed CBS Radio. It was the last radio group left to be tied to a major broadcast television network, as [[NBC]] divested its radio interests in the 1980s, and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sold off its division to [[Citadel Broadcasting]] (now part of [[Cumulus Media]]) in 2007.

== Early origins ==
CBS Radio is one of the oldest units within CBS Corporation, and has been around since 1928.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbscorporation.com/portfolio/cbs-television-network/|title=CBS Television Network {{!}} CBS Corporation|website=www.cbscorporation.com|language=en-US|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> However, the actual CBS Radio Network (now [[CBS News Radio]]) was launched in 1927, when CBS itself was known as United Independent Broadcasters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/25/archives/cbs-radio-to-scan-50-years.html|title=CBS Radio to Scan 50 Years|last=Brown|first=Les|date=August 25, 1977|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> [[Columbia Records]] later joined in and that company was renamed the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System. In September 1927, Columbia Records sold the company to [[William S. Paley]] and in 1928, Paley streamlined the corporate name to Columbia Broadcasting System.


In 1940, Paley also joined forces with the journalist [[Edmund Chester]] at CBS Radio and [[Nelson Rockefeller]] at the Department of State's [[Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs]] to launch the imaginative Network of the Americas (La Cadena de Las Americas) in 1942.<ref>''Time'' - Radio: La Cadena, June 1, 1942 [https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,790530-1,00.html William S. Paley, La Cadena de las Americas on Content.time.com]</ref><ref name="books.google.com">[https://books.google.com/books?id=W4IgALTXtH4C&dq=Edmund+A.+Chester&pg=PT163 ''In All His Glory: the Life And Times of William S. Paley'']. Salley Bedell Smith. Random House. New York, 2002 p. 18 {{ISBN|978-0-307-78671-5}} William S. Paley, CBS, Edmund A. Chester on books.google</ref> This innovative radio network beamed both news and cultural programming live to North and South America in support of [[cultural diplomacy]] and [[Pan Americanism]] in accordance with President [[Franklin Roosevelt]]'s [[Good Neighbor policy]] during World War II.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ql_sDwAAQBAJ&dq=CBS+Pan+American+Orchestra+Alfredo+Antonini&pg=PT74 ''Beyond the Black and White TV: Asian and Latin American Spectacle in Cold War America''. Han, Benjamin M. Rutgers University Press, 2022 La Cadena de las Americas, Edmund Chester, William S. Paley, Cold War diplomacy on Google Books]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Qx00pQIkclMC&q=Edmund+Chester&pg=PA166 ''Dissonant Divas In Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda''] Deborah R. Vargas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012 {{ISBN|978-0-8166-7316-2}} p. 152-157 Edmund Chester, CBS, Franklin Roosevelt and "La Cadena De Las Americas" on google.books.com</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xYoYAAAAIAAJ&q=Edmund++Chester+New+York+Times ''Current Biographical Yearbook Volume 2''. H. W. Wilson Co. New York, 1941 p. 148 Edmund A. Chester CBS Director of Foreign Broadcasting - biography on books.google]</ref><ref name="books.google.com">[https://books.google.com/books?id=W4IgALTXtH4C&dq=Edmund+A.+Chester&pg=PT163 ''In All His Glory: the Life And Times of William S. Paley'']. Salley Bedell Smith. Random House. New York, 2002 p. 18 {{ISBN|978-0-307-78671-5}} William S. Paley, CBS, Edmund A. Chester on books.google</ref><ref>''Time'' - Radio: La Cadena, June 1, 1942 [https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,790530-1,00.html William S. Paley, La Cadena de las Americas on Content.time.com]</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
The company that would become CBS Radio was founded in 1972 as '''Infinity Broadcasting Corporation''' by [[Michael A. Wiener]] and Gerald Carrus, with the acquisition of [[KOME]], an FM radio station that served the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. It became a publicly traded company twice, in 1986, and again in 1992.
[[Image:Infinity Broadcasting.png|right|thumb|The former CBS Radio logo as Infinity Broadcasting]] after CBS Radio burned merged with Infinity Broadcasting in 1997, and took on the Infinity Broadcasting moniker. On December 14, 2005, in anticipation of media giant [[Viacom]] Inc.'s separation of its businesses, [[CBS]] [[television]] and [[radio]] broadcast properties reverted the division's brand back to CBS Radio.


[[Westinghouse Electric Corporation]] acquired CBS, Inc. in 1995 and then acquired Infinity Broadcasting in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2017/03/29/timeline-westinghouse-electric-co.html|title=Timeline: Westinghouse Electric Co.|website=The Business Journals|access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref> Westinghouse, which produced the first radio broadcast on November 2, 1920, with [[KDKA (AM)|KDKA]] in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/03/08/kdkas-historic-broadcast/|title=KDKA's Historic Broadcast|date=March 8, 2012|language=en|access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref> would later change its name to the original CBS Corporation,<ref>{{cite news |title="Westinghouse Electric to Rename Itself CBS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/06/business/westinghouse-electric-to-rename-itself-cbs.html |access-date=July 12, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 6, 1997 |page=D-4}}</ref> and reorganize all of its radio properties (including its own [[Westinghouse Broadcasting|Group W]] stations), as well as its outdoor advertising business, under the Infinity Broadcasting Corporation name. Westinghouse acquired American Radio Systems in September 1997.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Landler| first = Mark| title = Westinghouse To Acquire 98 Radio Stations| work = The New York Times| access-date = October 25, 2015| date = September 20, 1997| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/20/business/westinghouse-to-acquire-98-radio-stations.html}}</ref> In 2000, CBS Corporation was merged into [[Viacom (1971–2005)|Viacom]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/09/07/deals/cbs/|title=Viacom buys CBS for $35.6 billion - Sep. 7, 1999|publisher=CNN|access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref> On December 31, 2005, Viacom [[Viacom (2005–2019)|spun out]] its motion picture and cable television assets, with the remainder maintained as [[CBS Corporation|the second CBS Corporation]]. In anticipation of this, Infinity Broadcasting was reorganized as CBS Radio.
Until late 2004, the stations were not allowed to [[streaming|stream]] their programs online. [[WCBS-AM]] was the first station able to stream their content over the [[internet]], shortly followed by other news and talk stations. Company officials originally thought that there was no profit to be made from streaming.


In August 2006, CBS Radio announced the sale of its 15 radio stations in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]; [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; [[Austin, Texas]]; and [[Rochester, New York]] to [[Entercom Communications]]. This group deal was granted [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] approval in mid-November 2007 after it faced regulatory review and numerous challenges for over a year, and officially closed on November 30. Several other stations, most in smaller markets, have also been sold to companies like [[Border Media Partners]] and Peak Media Corporation.
In August 2006, CBS Radio announced the sale of its 15 radio stations in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]]; [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; [[Austin, Texas]]; and [[Rochester, New York]] to [[Entercom Communications]]. This group deal was granted [[FCC]] approval in mid-November 2007 after it faced regulatory review and numerous challenges for over a year, and officially closed on November 30. Several other stations, most in smaller markets, were also sold to companies like [[Border Media Partners]] and Peak Media Corporation.


On April 30 2008, CBS Radio and [[AOL]] entered a partnership (following the dissolution of partnership between AOL and [[XM Satellite Radio]] due to the change in Internet royalty rates). The AOL Radio player powered by CBS Radio features over 200 CBS Radio stations, along with over 200 AOL Radio stations, combining two of the largest online radio networks and giving millions of listeners unlimited and free access to a diverse array of music and programming including news, sports and talk. These stations have been folded into the [[AOL Radio]] application seen in the [[iTunes App Store]] for availability on the [[iPhone]].
On April 30, 2008, CBS Radio and [[AOL]] entered a partnership (following the dissolution of partnership between AOL and [[XM Satellite Radio]] due to the change in Internet royalty rates). The AOL Radio player powered by CBS Radio featured over 200 CBS Radio stations, along with over 200 AOL Radio stations, combining two of the largest online radio networks and giving millions of listeners unlimited and free access to a diverse array of music and programming including news, sports and talk. These stations were folded into the [[AOL Radio]] mobile app.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/aol-turns-the-iphone-into-an-expensive-radio/?_r=0|title=AOL Turns the iPhone Into an Expensive Radio|last=Hansell|first=Saul|newspaper=Bits Blog|date=June 13, 2008 |language=en|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tomsguide.com/us/cbs-yahoo-internet-radio,news-3076.html|title=CBS Radio to Power Yahoo's Launchcast|date=December 3, 2008|newspaper=Tom's Guide|language=en|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref>


On July 31, 2008; CBS Radio has announced that it will sell 50 more radio stations in 12 mid-size markets to increase its focus on stations in large markets such as [[Greater Los Angeles Area|Greater Los Angeles]], [[Houston]], [[Chicago metropolitan area|Chicagoland]], [[Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[New York City]], [[San Francisco Bay Area]], and [[Delaware Valley|Greater Philadelphia]]. It is reported that [[KMOX]] in St. Louis and [[KDKA (AM)|KDKA]] in Pittsburgh are not included in the 50 radio station sale,<ref>[http://www.radio-info.com/news/index.php?nsID=3360 First bids on CBS Radio selloffs due today] - ''[http://www.radio-info.com Radio-Info.com]'' (retrieved September 22, 2008)</ref> however some companies like [[RBC Capital Markets]] said CBS Radio is a "melting icecube" and that CBS Corporation would be better off selling the entire radio unit rather than "waiting a couple of years and selling the rest for less."
In 2008, CBS started the process of paring down its station holdings, with a particular focus on ridding itself of stations in mid-sized markets, and markets where there are no television stations for synergistic advantages.<ref name="variety-cbssell" /> On July 31, 2008, CBS Radio announced that it would sell 50 more radio stations in 12 mid-size markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radio-info.com/news/first-bids-on-cbs-radio-selloffs-due-today |title=First bids on CBS Radio selloffs due today |date=September 22, 2008 |work=Radio-Info.com |access-date=May 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011022158/http://www.radio-info.com/news/first-bids-on-cbs-radio-selloffs-due-today |archive-date=October 11, 2011 }}</ref> however some companies like [[RBC Capital Markets]] said CBS Radio is a "melting icecube" and that CBS Corporation would be better off selling the entire radio unit rather than "waiting a couple of years and selling the rest for less."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2008/09/22/cbs-kicks-off-radio-station-auction/|title=CBS KICKS OFF RADIO STATION AUCTION|last=Lauria|first=Peter|date=September 22, 2008|website=New York Post|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref>


On December 15, 2008, CBS Radio and [[Clear Channel Communications]] reached an agreement to swap seven stations. In this deal, Clear Channel acquired [[WQSR]] in [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]], [[KBKS]] in [[Seattle, Washington]], [[KLTH]] and [[KXJM]] in [[Portland, Oregon]], and [[KQJK]] in [[Sacramento, California]]; and CBS Radio would get [[KHMX]] and [[KLOL]] in [[Houston, Texas]]. The swap was among the first examples of CBS Radio's strategy to divest its mid-sized market stations and focus on the larger markets.<ref>[http://www.cbsradio.com/press_center/releases/pressrelease102342-12-15-2008.html CBS Radio to Swap Five Mid-Size Market Stations for Two Large Market Stations with Clear Channel Communications] (retrieved December 15, 2008)</ref> The deal closed on April 1, 2009.
On December 15, 2008, CBS Radio and Clear Channel Communications reached an agreement to swap seven stations. In this deal, Clear Channel acquired [[WQSR]] in [[Baltimore]], Maryland, [[KBKS]] in [[Seattle, Washington]], [[KLTH]] and [[KXJM]] in [[Portland, Oregon]], and [[KYRV|KQJK]] in [[Sacramento, California]]; and CBS Radio would get [[KHMX]] and [[KLOL]] in [[Houston, Texas]].<ref>[http://www.cbsradio.com/press_center/releases/pressrelease102342-12-15-2008.html CBS Radio to Swap Five Mid-Size Market Stations for Two Large Market Stations with Clear Channel Communications] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219194540/http://www.cbsradio.com/press_center/releases/pressrelease102342-12-15-2008.html |date=December 19, 2008 }} (retrieved December 15, 2008)</ref> The deal closed on April 1, 2009. On December 20, 2008, CBS Radio announced that it would sell the entire [[Denver]] cluster (this includes three radio stations) to [[Wilks Broadcasting]] for $19.5 Million, including [[KIMN]], [[KKSE-FM|KWOF]], and [[KXKL-FM]].<ref>[http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=809272 CBS to sell three Denver radio stations to Wilks Broadcasting for $19.5 Mln cash – Update] – RTTNews (released December 22, 2008)</ref>


On December 20, 2008, CBS Radio announced that it would sell the entire [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]] cluster (this includes three radio stations) to [[Wilks Broadcasting]] for $19.5 Million. This is another example of CBS Radio's strategy to divest its mid-sized market stations and focus on the larger markets. The stations included in the sale are [[KIMN]], [[KWLI]], and [[KXKL-FM|KXKL]].<ref>[http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=809272 CBS to sell three Denver radio stations to Wilks Broadcasting for $19.5 Mln cash - Update] - [[RTTNews]] (released December 22, 2008)</ref>
On August 10, 2009, CBS Radio announced that it would sell the entire [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] cluster (this includes four radio stations) to [[Alpha Broadcasting]] for $40 Million. The stations included in the sale are [[KUFO (AM)|KCMD]], [[KINK]], [[KXL-FM|KUFO]], and [[KUPL]].<ref>[http://oregonmediacentral.com/2009/08/first-on-omc-cbs-radio-sells-portland-station-group-to-alpha-broadcasting CBS Radio Sells Portland Station Group to Alpha Broadcasting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809130654/http://oregonmediacentral.com/2009/08/first-on-omc-cbs-radio-sells-portland-station-group-to-alpha-broadcasting |date=August 9, 2009 }} – [http://oregonmediacentral.com/ Oregon Media Central] (released August 7, 2009)</ref>


On February 4, 2010, all CBS Radio stations, as well as AOL Radio and Yahoo! Music Radio restricted all non U.S. listeners from streaming online content. CBS Radio redirected to sister property [[Last.fm]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-02152010.html |title=CBS Radio cuts off streaming access beyond U.S. borders. |last=Taylor |first=Tom |date=February 15, 2010 |work=Taylor on Radio-Info |publisher=Radio-Info.com |access-date=May 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006171209/http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-02152010.html |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In July 2010, CBS Radio launched [[Radio.com]].
In February of 2009, with the rise of Internet royalty rates, [[Yahoo!]] made a deal with CBS Radio to power [[LAUNCHcast]].


2011 saw the biggest AC format removal of the company dropping AC for [[hot adult contemporary]] on [[Washington, D.C.]]'s [[WIAD]] in March, followed by [[New York City]]'s [[WWFS]] on October 12 (both in the [[Eastern Time Zone]]). On August 1, [[WCFS-FM]] [[Chicago]] removed its AC format for all-news to simulcast [[WBBM (AM)]]. By November 2011, WLTE in [[Minneapolis]]/[[St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] removed the AC format for [[Christmas music]], only to transition to [[country music]] as [[KMNB]] on December 26.
On August 10, 2009, CBS Radio announced that it would sell the entire [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] cluster (this includes four radio stations) to Alpha Broadcasting for $40 Million. The stations included in the sale are [[KCMD]], [[KINK]], [[KUFO-FM|KUFO]], and [[KUPL-FM|KUPL]].<ref>[http://oregonmediacentral.com/2009/08/first-on-omc-cbs-radio-sells-portland-station-group-to-alpha-broadcasting CBS Radio Sells Portland Station Group to Alpha Broadcasting] - [http://oregonmediacentral.com Oregon Media Central] (released August 7, 2009)</ref>


On February 4, 2010, all CBS Radio stations, as well as AOL Radio and Yahoo! Music Radio have restricted all non U.S. listeners from streaming online content. CBS Radio redirects to sister property [[Last.fm]]. <ref>[http://www.radio-info.com/newsletter/html/tri-02152010.html CBS Radio cuts off streaming access beyond U.S. borders.] (released February 15, 2010)</ref>
On April 9, 2012, CBS Radio announced that it was selling its West Palm Beach cluster of stations to Palm Beach Broadcasting for $50 Million.<ref>[http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/104667/cbs-sells-west-palm-beach-cluster CBS Sells West Palm Beach Cluster] – All Access Music Group (released April 10, 2012)</ref>


On December 1, 2014, CBS Radio traded 14 stations—its [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] and [[Tampa Bay Area|Tampa Bay]] clusters as well as WIP (now [[WTEL (AM)]]) in [[Philadelphia]]—to [[Beasley Broadcast Group]] in exchange for WRDW-FM (now [[WTDY-FM]]) and [[WXTU]] in Philadelphia and [[WKIS]], [[WPOW]], and [[WQAM]] in [[Miami]].<ref name=ri-cbsbeasleycomplete>{{cite news|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=CBS Beasley Deal Closes|url=http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/91003/cbsbeasley-swap-updates/|access-date=December 1, 2014|work=RadioInsight|date=December 1, 2014}}</ref>


In May 2016, [[Percy Anderson (judge)|Judge Percy Anderson]] ruled in favor of CBS Radio in a lawsuit filed by ABS Entertainment over the use of pre-1972 sound recordings, which are subject to [[common law copyright|common law state copyright]] and not federal law, on CBS Radio's oldies stations. ABS argued that because pre-1972 works are not subject to federal copyright, they are not subject to the federal laws providing [[compulsory license]]s for performing the recordings on terrestrial radio and via non-interactive digital streams, and require permission. CBS, however, argued that it did not play pre-1972 sound recordings, but remastered versions of recordings published from compilations with copyrights registered after 1972, making them separate works subject to federal copyright and eligible for compulsory licenses. The court ruled that the remastered recordings contained "multiple kinds of creative authorship, such as adjustments of equalization, sound editing and channel assignment", with [[Threshold of originality|a level of creativity]] suitable enough to generate a new copyright.<ref name="thr-cbsremaster">{{cite web|title=CBS Radio Has Novel Argument to Legal Demand to Stop Playing Pre-1972 Songs|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/cbs-radio-has-novel-argument-833596|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref><ref name="thr-cbs1972">{{cite web|title=CBS Beats Lawsuit Over Pre-1972 Songs With Bold Copyright Argument|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/cbs-beats-lawsuit-pre-1972-898633|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 2016 |access-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref>
== Howard Stern and Free FM ==
{{details3|[[The Howard Stern Show]] and [[Free FM]]}}


=== Merger with Entercom ===
From 1985 to 2005, Infinity/CBS Radio was the home of controversial and top-rated talk show host [[Howard Stern]], who left due to increasing [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] and station censorship. In January 2006, rock star [[David Lee Roth]], [[Rover's Morning Glory]], and talk show host [[Adam Carolla]] replaced [[Howard Stern|Stern]] in most major radio markets, and CBS Radio launched its new "[[Free FM]]" [[hot talk]] format in many of these markets. [[David Lee Roth|Roth]]'s show was cancelled four months later and CBS Radio announced that [[Opie and Anthony]] of [[XM Radio]] would replace Roth on the stations that carried him, despite the irony that the two were fired after the sex act controversy inside of [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York]]. Adam Carolla's show was also later canceled.
On March 15, 2016, CBS Corporation CEO [[Leslie Moonves]] stated that the company was exploring strategic alternatives that could result in the sale or spin-off of CBS Radio. Cumulus Media had been named as one of the potential buyers.<ref name="variety-cbssell">{{cite web|title=CBS Plans to Sell Radio Station Group|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/cbs-radio-stations-sale-investors-1201730033/|website=Variety|date=March 15, 2016 |access-date=March 15, 2016}}</ref> In July 2016, CBS Radio filed for a planned IPO, which would have spun off the subsidiary as a separate, publicly traded company.<ref name="bloomberg-cbsradioipo">{{cite news|title=CBS Radio Files for IPO as Parent Plans to Jettison Business|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-08/cbs-radio-files-for-ipo-after-broadcaster-fails-to-find-a-buyer|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=July 8, 2016 |access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced that it had agreed to merge with [[Entercom]], at the time the fourth-largest radio broadcaster in the United States; the sale was to be conducted using a [[Reverse Morris Trust]] so that it would be tax-free. To comply with federal ownership limits Entercom had plans to divest 14 stations.<ref name="sacbee-moving">{{cite web|title=It's the end of The End 107.9. Format will move down the dial ahead of planned merger.|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article130697129.html|website=Sacramento Bee|access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Entercom/CBS Radio Place Future Spin-Offs In Divestiture Trust – RadioInsight|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/117047/entercomcbs-radio-place-future-spin-offs-divestiture-trust/|website=RadioInsight|date=March 21, 2017}}</ref>


The transaction closed on November 17, 2017,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8039439/entercom-cbs-radio-merger-finalized-no-2-radio-operator|title=Entercom Finalizes Merger With CBS Radio, Becoming No. 2 Radio Operator in US|magazine=Billboard|first=Cherie|last=Hu|date=November 11, 2017|access-date=December 13, 2017}}</ref> ending the era of network-owned radio stations in America involving the original [[Big Three (American television)|Big Three]] ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[NBC]], and [[CBS]]). ABC, however, still owned a few stations outside its original network at the time, primarily under the [[ESPN Radio]] umbrella. Following the purchase, Entercom became the second-largest owner of radio stations in the United States in terms of revenue, with a total of 244 stations, and operations in 23 of the top 25 markets.<ref name="variety-cbsentercom">{{cite web|title=CBS Sets Radio Division Merger With Entercom|url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/cbs-entercom-radio-division-merger-1201976392/|website=Variety|date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2017/02/02/cbs-entercom-radio-merger/|title=CBS and Entercom Are Merging Their Radio Stations|website=Fortune|access-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref>
On February 28, 2006, [[CBS Radio]] (formerly [[Infinity Broadcasting]]) announced it had filed a lawsuit against Stern, his agent Don Buchwald, and Sirius, arguing that Stern promoted Sirius "to enrich himself unfairly."<ref name="CBS-Tapes">{{cite news | title=Stern Gets Old Tapes, CBS Gets $2M | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/25/entertainment/main1654391.shtml?source=RSS&attr=Business_1654391 | publisher=CBS News | date=May 25, 2006| accessdate=September 18, 2008}}</ref> It also claimed that Stern "repeatedly and will-fully" breached his contract with CBS, "misappropriated millions of dollars worth [of airtime]" for his own benefit and "fraudulently concealed" his performance-related interests in Sirius stock. The suit, filed in New York State Court, sought [[Compensatory damages|compensatory]] and [[punitive damages]]. Stern anticipated the suit, and earlier that day, prior to CBS' announcement, held a press conference, discussing how CBS added to the media attention, even booking him for appearances on ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' and ''[[60 Minutes]]''. "I made them millions of dollars," Stern argued. "If I was hurting them, why did they keep me on the air for fourteen months? How can you have it both ways?"<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/03/01/stern-lawsuit-cbs.html CBS Radio files lawsuit against Stern, Sirius] CBC March 1, 2006</ref> When a settlement was announced on May 26, 2006, Sirius gained exclusive rights to Stern's back catalogue of radio broadcasts at [[WXRK]] from November 1985 to December 2005, totalling almost 23,000 hours.<ref>[http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=222720 FMQB: Howard Stern Attains Broadcast Archives From CBS Radio, Settles Suit]</ref> The rights, costing Sirius approximately $2 million, equates to approximately $87 per-hour of tape.<ref>{{cite news | title=Stern Gets Old Tapes, CBS Gets $2M | Stern was wowed by the prodigious radio talents of Stud Munson and Cabana Boy, of 96.1 WQQB in Champaign, Il, and offered them a job, as they would work cheaper than Bubba the Love Sponge. url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/25/entertainment/main1654391.shtml?source=RSS&attr=Business_1654391 | work=CBS News | date=May 25, 2006| accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref>


The CBS News Radio and [[CBS Sports Radio]] networks were not included in the sale. However, CBS Sports Radio was continued to be broadcast by Entercom stations that carried its national programming.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cbssportsradio.radio.com/stations|title=Stations|website=CBS Sports Radio|language=en|access-date=August 15, 2019}}</ref> Hosts and employees of CBS Sports Radio (which has since rebranded as [[Infinity Sports Network]]) are now employees of [[Audacy, Inc.]] (formerly Entercom).


==Radio Brands and Programming==
{{As of|2009}}, the Free FM branding has been discontinued in all markets, and no former Free FM station continues to have a hot talk format.
=== Howard Stern and Free FM ===
{{details|The Howard Stern Show|Free FM}}
From 1985 to 2005, Infinity/CBS Radio was the home of controversial and top-rated talk show host [[Howard Stern]], who left for subscription-based satellite radio due to increasing [[FCC]] and station censorship. In January 2006, rock star [[David Lee Roth]], [[Rover's Morning Glory]], and talk show host [[Adam Carolla]] replaced [[Howard Stern|Stern]] in most major radio markets, and CBS Radio launched its new "[[Free FM]]" [[hot talk]] format in many of these markets. [[David Lee Roth|Roth]]'s show was cancelled four months later and CBS Radio announced that [[Opie and Anthony]] of [[XM Radio]] would replace Roth on the stations that carried him, despite the irony that the two were fired after the sex act controversy inside of [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York]]. Adam Carolla's show was also later canceled.


On February 28, 2006, CBS Radio announced it had filed a lawsuit against Stern, his agent Don Buchwald, and Sirius, arguing that Stern promoted Sirius "to enrich himself unfairly".<ref name="CBS-Tapes">{{cite news |title=Stern Gets Old Tapes, CBS Gets $2M |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stern-gets-old-tapes-cbs-gets-2m/ |publisher=CBS News | date=May 25, 2006 |access-date=September 18, 2008}}</ref> It also claimed that Stern "repeatedly and willfully" breached his contract with CBS, "misappropriated millions of dollars worth [of airtime]" for his own benefit and "fraudulently concealed" his performance-related interests in Sirius stock. The suit, filed in New York State Court, sought [[Compensatory damages|compensatory]] and [[punitive damages]]. Stern anticipated the suit, and earlier that day, prior to CBS' announcement, held a press conference, discussing how CBS added to the media attention, even booking him for appearances on ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' and ''[[60 Minutes]]''. "I made them millions of dollars," Stern argued. "If I was hurting them, why did they keep me on the air for fourteen months? How can you have it both ways?"<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/cbs-radio-files-lawsuit-against-stern-sirius-1.576703 CBS Radio files lawsuit against Stern, Sirius] CBC March 1, 2006</ref> When a settlement was announced on May 26, 2006, Sirius gained exclusive rights to Stern's back catalogue of radio broadcasts at [[WINS-FM|WXRK]] from November 1985 to December 2005, totalling almost 23,000 hours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=222720 |title=FMQB: Howard Stern Attains Broadcast Archives From CBS Radio, Settles Suit |access-date=May 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206152324/http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=222720 |archive-date=February 6, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The rights, costing Sirius approximately $2 million, equates to approximately $87 per-hour of tape.<ref name="CBS-Tapes"/>
== Jack FM ==
{{details|Jack FM}}


{{As of|2009}}, the Free FM branding has been discontinued in all markets, and no former Free FM station continues to have a hot talk format. The only remaining show still on air is The Sports Junkies on WJFK 106.7 FM DC. All other shows broke up or were canceled. Some, including The Big O & Dukes Show and The Mike O'Meara Show, have been reborn as podcasts.
CBS Radio owns the majority of stations in the [[United States]] that broadcast the [[Jack FM]] format, a radio format that incorporates all types of [[popular music]] from the mid-50s to the present. These include stations in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Seattle]], [[Las Vegas metropolitan area|Las Vegas]], [[Minneapolis]] and many other cities. [[New York City|New York]] and [[Houston]] had Jack FM stations, too; the [[New York City|New York]] station has reverted back to its oldies format, and Jack (which has been renamed ToNY) is now carried on its HD2 subchannel.


=== Jack FM ===
== FIM Asian Road Racing Championship and WSBK ==
{{main|Jack FM}}
CBS Radio is the largest broadcaster of local [[Petronas]] broadcasts. In the past two years, CBS has dropped the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] from [[KMOX]] and the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] from [[KDKA (AM)|KDKA]], ending two long relationships between the teams and their flagship stations. However, [[New York Yankees]] games were renewed on [[WCBS-AM]]. CBS's [[WFAN]] is the flagship station of the [[New York Mets]] and [[WSCR]] is the flagship station of the [[Petronas]]. In Philadelphia CBS's 1210 [[WPHT]] a frequency that had been the long time home of the Supersports 600cc before parting ways after the 2001 season, reacquired the team's broadcast rights in 2005.
CBS Radio owned the majority of stations in the [[United States]] that broadcast the [[Jack FM]] format, a radio format that incorporates all types of [[popular music]] from the mid-50s to the present. These included stations in Los Angeles, [[Dallas]], [[Seattle]], [[Minneapolis]] and many other cities. New York City, Chicago and [[Houston]] had Jack FM stations, too; the New York City station, [[WCBS-FM]] has reverted to its traditional oldies format, and Jack (which had been renamed ToNY) was carried on its HD2 subchannel.

=== AMP Radio ===
{{details|KNX-FM|WDZH|WBGB (FM)|WINS-FM|WJHM|WTDY-FM|KVIL}}
CBS Radio owned "AMP Radio", a branding created by KROQ-FM program director Kevin Weatherly and APD John Michael on the HD2 channel of [[KCBS-FM]]. Much like its competitor [[KISS-FM (brand)|Kiss FM]], AMP broadcasts [[contemporary hit radio|contemporary hit radio/top 40]] music. In February 2009, the first AMP station was launched in Los Angeles under the callsign KAMP-FM. Over the years, CBS Radio expanded the AMP brand and the CHR/Top 40 format to its stations in Detroit, Boston, Orlando, New York City, Philadelphia, and lastly Dallas. Since the Entercom acquisition in November 2017, all the stations in the aforementioned markets, except for the Los Angeles flagship station, gradually flipped formats. By 2021, the AMP Radio branding was discontinued.

=== Major League Baseball ===
{{more citations needed section|date=May 2019}}

{{see also|Major League Baseball on CBS Radio}}

CBS Radio was the largest broadcaster of local [[Major League Baseball]] broadcasts. In 2005 and 2007 respectively, CBS dropped the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] from KMOX and the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] from KDKA, ending two long relationships between the teams and their flagship stations. However, KMOX reacquired the Cardinals' broadcast rights in 2011, and KDKA's [[KDKA-FM|FM sister all-sports station]] acquired the Pirates' broadcast rights in 2012, in addition to [[New York Yankees]] games being renewed on WCBS after the conclusion of the 2011 season, they would have the rights until the end of the 2013 season.

CBS's [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]] is the flagship station of the [[New York Yankees]] (they had broadcast the [[Mets]] until 2014) and [[WSCR]] is the flagship station of the [[Chicago Cubs]]. In Philadelphia, [[WPHT]], a frequency that had been the longtime home of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] before parting ways after the 2001 season, reacquired the team's broadcast rights in 2005. As of 2012, those games are now simulcast on sister station [[WIP-FM]]. [[KRLD-FM]] in Dallas was the flagship station for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] before the 2011 season.

In 2015, the [[Chicago Cubs]] moved its radio broadcasts to CBS property [[WBBM (AM)]] from its longtime home of [[WGN (AM)]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Levine|first1=Bruce|title=Levine: CBS Radio Gains Cubs Broadcasting Rights|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/06/04/cbs-radio-gains-cubs-broadcasting-rights/|website=chicago.cbslocal.com|date=June 4, 2014 |publisher=CBS Chicago|access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> That same year, the [[Baltimore Orioles]] began its second stint on all-sports [[WJZ-FM]], four years after it was moved back to its traditional home of [[WBAL (AM)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/01/13/orioles-return-to-cbs-radio/|title=Orioles Return to CBS Radio|last1=Viviano|first1=Mark|website=CBS Baltimore|date=January 13, 2015 |access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref> In 2016, the Cubs rights moved to sister station WSCR as part of a pre-arrangement in the 2015 agreement where WSCR would take over airing games after letting the rights to the [[Chicago White Sox]] go after the 2015 season (which now broadcast on [[WGN (AM)]]).

==All-news radio stations==
Prior to the merger with Entercom, CBS Radio operated nearly all of the [[all-news]] radio stations in the United States.

They included:
* [[KCBS (AM)]] in San Francisco
* [[KMOX]] in St. Louis (partial all-news)
* [[KNX (AM)]], [[KNX-FM]] in Los Angeles
* [[KRLD (AM)]] in Dallas (partial all-news)
* [[KYW (AM)]] in Philadelphia
* [[WBBM (AM)]] in Chicago
* [[WBZ (AM)]] in Boston
* [[WCBS (AM)]] in New York
* [[WINS (AM)]] in New York
* [[WWJ (AM)]] in Detroit

As part of the merger and in order to comply with FCC Regulations, CBS Radio divested WBZ and ownership of that station was transferred to [[iHeartMedia]].


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of broadcast stations owned by CBS Radio]]
*[[Westinghouse Broadcasting]]
* [[Westinghouse Broadcasting|Westinghouse Broadcasting (Group W)]], the broadcasting unit of Westinghouse.
*[[Infinity Broadcasting Corporation]]
* [[Infinity Broadcasting Corporation]], the company before its reorganization by Westinghouse.
*[[Last.fm]]
*[[Petronas]]
* [[Radio.com]]
* [[Last.fm]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.cbsradio.com/ CBS Radio official website]


{{CBS Radio}}
{{CBS Radio}}
{{Paramount Global}}
{{CBS}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cbs Radio}}
[[Category:Radio broadcasting companies of the United States]]
[[Category:CBS Corporation subsidiaries]]
[[Category:CBS Radio| ]]
[[Category:CBS Radio| ]]
[[Category:Westwood One]]

[[Category:Defunct radio broadcasting companies of the United States]]
[[de:CBS Radio]]
[[fr:Infinity Broadcasting Corporation]]
[[Category:Former CBS Corporation subsidiaries]]
[[Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[nl:CBS Radio]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[fi:CBS Radio]]
[[Category:2017 disestablishments in New York (state)]]

Latest revision as of 03:59, 17 November 2024

This article is about the radio group. For the radio network, see CBS News Radio.

CBS Radio Inc.
FormerlyInfinity Broadcasting (1997–2005)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRadio broadcasting
PredecessorInfinity Broadcasting
Westinghouse Broadcasting
Founded1928; 96 years ago (1928) (Foundation of CBS)
1997; 27 years ago (1997) (relaunched as Infinity Broadcasting)
2005; 19 years ago (2005) (relaunched as CBS Radio)
DefunctNovember 17, 2017; 7 years ago (November 17, 2017)
FateAcquired by Entercom (now Audacy, Inc.)[1]
SuccessorEntercom (now Audacy, Inc.)[1]
Headquarters
345 Hudson Street
New York City, N.Y. 10014
,
U.S.
Area served
Nationwide
Key people
Andre Fernandez, president and chief executive officer

CBS Radio was a radio broadcasting company and radio network operator owned by CBS Corporation and founded in 1928, with consolidated radio station groups owned by CBS and Westinghouse Broadcasting/Group W since the 1920s, and Infinity Broadcasting since the 1970s. The broadcasting company was sold to Entercom (now known as Audacy, Inc.) on November 17, 2017.[1]

Although CBS's involvement in radio dates back to the establishment of the original CBS Radio Network in 1927, the most recent radio division was formed by the 1997 acquisition of Infinity Broadcasting by CBS owner Westinghouse.In 1999, Infinity became a division of the original Viacom; in 2005, Viacom spun CBS and Infinity Broadcasting back into a separate company, and the division was renamed CBS Radio. It was the last radio group left to be tied to a major broadcast television network, as NBC divested its radio interests in the 1980s, and ABC sold off its division to Citadel Broadcasting (now part of Cumulus Media) in 2007.

Early origins

[edit]

CBS Radio is one of the oldest units within CBS Corporation, and has been around since 1928.[2] However, the actual CBS Radio Network (now CBS News Radio) was launched in 1927, when CBS itself was known as United Independent Broadcasters.[3] Columbia Records later joined in and that company was renamed the Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System. In September 1927, Columbia Records sold the company to William S. Paley and in 1928, Paley streamlined the corporate name to Columbia Broadcasting System.

In 1940, Paley also joined forces with the journalist Edmund Chester at CBS Radio and Nelson Rockefeller at the Department of State's Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs to launch the imaginative Network of the Americas (La Cadena de Las Americas) in 1942.[4][5] This innovative radio network beamed both news and cultural programming live to North and South America in support of cultural diplomacy and Pan Americanism in accordance with President Franklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy during World War II.[6][7][8][5][9]

History

[edit]

The company that would become CBS Radio was founded in 1972 as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation by Michael A. Wiener and Gerald Carrus, with the acquisition of KOME, an FM radio station that served the San Francisco Bay Area. It became a publicly traded company twice, in 1986, and again in 1992.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation acquired CBS, Inc. in 1995 and then acquired Infinity Broadcasting in 1997.[10] Westinghouse, which produced the first radio broadcast on November 2, 1920, with KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,[11] would later change its name to the original CBS Corporation,[12] and reorganize all of its radio properties (including its own Group W stations), as well as its outdoor advertising business, under the Infinity Broadcasting Corporation name. Westinghouse acquired American Radio Systems in September 1997.[13] In 2000, CBS Corporation was merged into Viacom.[14] On December 31, 2005, Viacom spun out its motion picture and cable television assets, with the remainder maintained as the second CBS Corporation. In anticipation of this, Infinity Broadcasting was reorganized as CBS Radio.

In August 2006, CBS Radio announced the sale of its 15 radio stations in Cincinnati, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; and Rochester, New York to Entercom Communications. This group deal was granted FCC approval in mid-November 2007 after it faced regulatory review and numerous challenges for over a year, and officially closed on November 30. Several other stations, most in smaller markets, were also sold to companies like Border Media Partners and Peak Media Corporation.

On April 30, 2008, CBS Radio and AOL entered a partnership (following the dissolution of partnership between AOL and XM Satellite Radio due to the change in Internet royalty rates). The AOL Radio player powered by CBS Radio featured over 200 CBS Radio stations, along with over 200 AOL Radio stations, combining two of the largest online radio networks and giving millions of listeners unlimited and free access to a diverse array of music and programming including news, sports and talk. These stations were folded into the AOL Radio mobile app.[15][16]

In 2008, CBS started the process of paring down its station holdings, with a particular focus on ridding itself of stations in mid-sized markets, and markets where there are no television stations for synergistic advantages.[17] On July 31, 2008, CBS Radio announced that it would sell 50 more radio stations in 12 mid-size markets.[18] however some companies like RBC Capital Markets said CBS Radio is a "melting icecube" and that CBS Corporation would be better off selling the entire radio unit rather than "waiting a couple of years and selling the rest for less."[19]

On December 15, 2008, CBS Radio and Clear Channel Communications reached an agreement to swap seven stations. In this deal, Clear Channel acquired WQSR in Baltimore, Maryland, KBKS in Seattle, Washington, KLTH and KXJM in Portland, Oregon, and KQJK in Sacramento, California; and CBS Radio would get KHMX and KLOL in Houston, Texas.[20] The deal closed on April 1, 2009. On December 20, 2008, CBS Radio announced that it would sell the entire Denver cluster (this includes three radio stations) to Wilks Broadcasting for $19.5 Million, including KIMN, KWOF, and KXKL-FM.[21]

On August 10, 2009, CBS Radio announced that it would sell the entire Portland cluster (this includes four radio stations) to Alpha Broadcasting for $40 Million. The stations included in the sale are KCMD, KINK, KUFO, and KUPL.[22]

On February 4, 2010, all CBS Radio stations, as well as AOL Radio and Yahoo! Music Radio restricted all non U.S. listeners from streaming online content. CBS Radio redirected to sister property Last.fm.[23] In July 2010, CBS Radio launched Radio.com.

2011 saw the biggest AC format removal of the company dropping AC for hot adult contemporary on Washington, D.C.'s WIAD in March, followed by New York City's WWFS on October 12 (both in the Eastern Time Zone). On August 1, WCFS-FM Chicago removed its AC format for all-news to simulcast WBBM (AM). By November 2011, WLTE in Minneapolis/St. Paul removed the AC format for Christmas music, only to transition to country music as KMNB on December 26.

On April 9, 2012, CBS Radio announced that it was selling its West Palm Beach cluster of stations to Palm Beach Broadcasting for $50 Million.[24]

On December 1, 2014, CBS Radio traded 14 stations—its Charlotte, North Carolina and Tampa Bay clusters as well as WIP (now WTEL (AM)) in Philadelphia—to Beasley Broadcast Group in exchange for WRDW-FM (now WTDY-FM) and WXTU in Philadelphia and WKIS, WPOW, and WQAM in Miami.[25]

In May 2016, Judge Percy Anderson ruled in favor of CBS Radio in a lawsuit filed by ABS Entertainment over the use of pre-1972 sound recordings, which are subject to common law state copyright and not federal law, on CBS Radio's oldies stations. ABS argued that because pre-1972 works are not subject to federal copyright, they are not subject to the federal laws providing compulsory licenses for performing the recordings on terrestrial radio and via non-interactive digital streams, and require permission. CBS, however, argued that it did not play pre-1972 sound recordings, but remastered versions of recordings published from compilations with copyrights registered after 1972, making them separate works subject to federal copyright and eligible for compulsory licenses. The court ruled that the remastered recordings contained "multiple kinds of creative authorship, such as adjustments of equalization, sound editing and channel assignment", with a level of creativity suitable enough to generate a new copyright.[26][27]

Merger with Entercom

[edit]

On March 15, 2016, CBS Corporation CEO Leslie Moonves stated that the company was exploring strategic alternatives that could result in the sale or spin-off of CBS Radio. Cumulus Media had been named as one of the potential buyers.[17] In July 2016, CBS Radio filed for a planned IPO, which would have spun off the subsidiary as a separate, publicly traded company.[28] On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced that it had agreed to merge with Entercom, at the time the fourth-largest radio broadcaster in the United States; the sale was to be conducted using a Reverse Morris Trust so that it would be tax-free. To comply with federal ownership limits Entercom had plans to divest 14 stations.[29][30]

The transaction closed on November 17, 2017,[31] ending the era of network-owned radio stations in America involving the original Big Three (ABC, NBC, and CBS). ABC, however, still owned a few stations outside its original network at the time, primarily under the ESPN Radio umbrella. Following the purchase, Entercom became the second-largest owner of radio stations in the United States in terms of revenue, with a total of 244 stations, and operations in 23 of the top 25 markets.[32][33]

The CBS News Radio and CBS Sports Radio networks were not included in the sale. However, CBS Sports Radio was continued to be broadcast by Entercom stations that carried its national programming.[34] Hosts and employees of CBS Sports Radio (which has since rebranded as Infinity Sports Network) are now employees of Audacy, Inc. (formerly Entercom).

Radio Brands and Programming

[edit]

Howard Stern and Free FM

[edit]
Further information: The Howard Stern Show and Free FM

From 1985 to 2005, Infinity/CBS Radio was the home of controversial and top-rated talk show host Howard Stern, who left for subscription-based satellite radio due to increasing FCC and station censorship. In January 2006, rock star David Lee Roth, Rover's Morning Glory, and talk show host Adam Carolla replaced Stern in most major radio markets, and CBS Radio launched its new "Free FM" hot talk format in many of these markets. Roth's show was cancelled four months later and CBS Radio announced that Opie and Anthony of XM Radio would replace Roth on the stations that carried him, despite the irony that the two were fired after the sex act controversy inside of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York. Adam Carolla's show was also later canceled.

On February 28, 2006, CBS Radio announced it had filed a lawsuit against Stern, his agent Don Buchwald, and Sirius, arguing that Stern promoted Sirius "to enrich himself unfairly".[35] It also claimed that Stern "repeatedly and willfully" breached his contract with CBS, "misappropriated millions of dollars worth [of airtime]" for his own benefit and "fraudulently concealed" his performance-related interests in Sirius stock. The suit, filed in New York State Court, sought compensatory and punitive damages. Stern anticipated the suit, and earlier that day, prior to CBS' announcement, held a press conference, discussing how CBS added to the media attention, even booking him for appearances on Late Show with David Letterman and 60 Minutes. "I made them millions of dollars," Stern argued. "If I was hurting them, why did they keep me on the air for fourteen months? How can you have it both ways?"[36] When a settlement was announced on May 26, 2006, Sirius gained exclusive rights to Stern's back catalogue of radio broadcasts at WXRK from November 1985 to December 2005, totalling almost 23,000 hours.[37] The rights, costing Sirius approximately $2 million, equates to approximately $87 per-hour of tape.[35]

As of 2009, the Free FM branding has been discontinued in all markets, and no former Free FM station continues to have a hot talk format. The only remaining show still on air is The Sports Junkies on WJFK 106.7 FM DC. All other shows broke up or were canceled. Some, including The Big O & Dukes Show and The Mike O'Meara Show, have been reborn as podcasts.

Jack FM

[edit]
Main article: Jack FM

CBS Radio owned the majority of stations in the United States that broadcast the Jack FM format, a radio format that incorporates all types of popular music from the mid-50s to the present. These included stations in Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, Minneapolis and many other cities. New York City, Chicago and Houston had Jack FM stations, too; the New York City station, WCBS-FM has reverted to its traditional oldies format, and Jack (which had been renamed ToNY) was carried on its HD2 subchannel.

AMP Radio

[edit]
Further information: KNX-FM, WDZH, WBGB (FM), WINS-FM, WJHM, WTDY-FM, and KVIL

CBS Radio owned "AMP Radio", a branding created by KROQ-FM program director Kevin Weatherly and APD John Michael on the HD2 channel of KCBS-FM. Much like its competitor Kiss FM, AMP broadcasts contemporary hit radio/top 40 music. In February 2009, the first AMP station was launched in Los Angeles under the callsign KAMP-FM. Over the years, CBS Radio expanded the AMP brand and the CHR/Top 40 format to its stations in Detroit, Boston, Orlando, New York City, Philadelphia, and lastly Dallas. Since the Entercom acquisition in November 2017, all the stations in the aforementioned markets, except for the Los Angeles flagship station, gradually flipped formats. By 2021, the AMP Radio branding was discontinued.

Major League Baseball

[edit]
See also: Major League Baseball on CBS Radio

CBS Radio was the largest broadcaster of local Major League Baseball broadcasts. In 2005 and 2007 respectively, CBS dropped the St. Louis Cardinals from KMOX and the Pittsburgh Pirates from KDKA, ending two long relationships between the teams and their flagship stations. However, KMOX reacquired the Cardinals' broadcast rights in 2011, and KDKA's FM sister all-sports station acquired the Pirates' broadcast rights in 2012, in addition to New York Yankees games being renewed on WCBS after the conclusion of the 2011 season, they would have the rights until the end of the 2013 season.

CBS's WFAN is the flagship station of the New York Yankees (they had broadcast the Mets until 2014) and WSCR is the flagship station of the Chicago Cubs. In Philadelphia, WPHT, a frequency that had been the longtime home of the Philadelphia Phillies before parting ways after the 2001 season, reacquired the team's broadcast rights in 2005. As of 2012, those games are now simulcast on sister station WIP-FM. KRLD-FM in Dallas was the flagship station for the Texas Rangers before the 2011 season.

In 2015, the Chicago Cubs moved its radio broadcasts to CBS property WBBM (AM) from its longtime home of WGN (AM).[38] That same year, the Baltimore Orioles began its second stint on all-sports WJZ-FM, four years after it was moved back to its traditional home of WBAL (AM).[39] In 2016, the Cubs rights moved to sister station WSCR as part of a pre-arrangement in the 2015 agreement where WSCR would take over airing games after letting the rights to the Chicago White Sox go after the 2015 season (which now broadcast on WGN (AM)).

All-news radio stations

[edit]

Prior to the merger with Entercom, CBS Radio operated nearly all of the all-news radio stations in the United States.

They included:

As part of the merger and in order to comply with FCC Regulations, CBS Radio divested WBZ and ownership of that station was transferred to iHeartMedia.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Entercom Communications Corp. (November 16, 2017). "Form 8-K". Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  2. ^ "CBS Television Network | CBS Corporation". www.cbscorporation.com. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  3. ^ Brown, Les (August 25, 1977). "CBS Radio to Scan 50 Years". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  4. ^ Time - Radio: La Cadena, June 1, 1942 William S. Paley, La Cadena de las Americas on Content.time.com
  5. ^ a b In All His Glory: the Life And Times of William S. Paley. Salley Bedell Smith. Random House. New York, 2002 p. 18 ISBN 978-0-307-78671-5 William S. Paley, CBS, Edmund A. Chester on books.google
  6. ^ Beyond the Black and White TV: Asian and Latin American Spectacle in Cold War America. Han, Benjamin M. Rutgers University Press, 2022 La Cadena de las Americas, Edmund Chester, William S. Paley, Cold War diplomacy on Google Books
  7. ^ Dissonant Divas In Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda Deborah R. Vargas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012 ISBN 978-0-8166-7316-2 p. 152-157 Edmund Chester, CBS, Franklin Roosevelt and "La Cadena De Las Americas" on google.books.com
  8. ^ Current Biographical Yearbook Volume 2. H. W. Wilson Co. New York, 1941 p. 148 Edmund A. Chester CBS Director of Foreign Broadcasting - biography on books.google
  9. ^ Time - Radio: La Cadena, June 1, 1942 William S. Paley, La Cadena de las Americas on Content.time.com
  10. ^ "Timeline: Westinghouse Electric Co". The Business Journals. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "KDKA's Historic Broadcast". March 8, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  12. ^ ""Westinghouse Electric to Rename Itself CBS". The New York Times. February 6, 1997. p. D-4. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  13. ^ Landler, Mark (September 20, 1997). "Westinghouse To Acquire 98 Radio Stations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  14. ^ "Viacom buys CBS for $35.6 billion - Sep. 7, 1999". CNN. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  15. ^ Hansell, Saul (June 13, 2008). "AOL Turns the iPhone Into an Expensive Radio". Bits Blog. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  16. ^ "CBS Radio to Power Yahoo's Launchcast". Tom's Guide. December 3, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "CBS Plans to Sell Radio Station Group". Variety. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  18. ^ "First bids on CBS Radio selloffs due today". Radio-Info.com. September 22, 2008. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  19. ^ Lauria, Peter (September 22, 2008). "CBS KICKS OFF RADIO STATION AUCTION". New York Post. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  20. ^ CBS Radio to Swap Five Mid-Size Market Stations for Two Large Market Stations with Clear Channel Communications Archived December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine (retrieved December 15, 2008)
  21. ^ CBS to sell three Denver radio stations to Wilks Broadcasting for $19.5 Mln cash – Update – RTTNews (released December 22, 2008)
  22. ^ CBS Radio Sells Portland Station Group to Alpha Broadcasting Archived August 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine – Oregon Media Central (released August 7, 2009)
  23. ^ Taylor, Tom (February 15, 2010). "CBS Radio cuts off streaming access beyond U.S. borders". Taylor on Radio-Info. Radio-Info.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  24. ^ CBS Sells West Palm Beach Cluster – All Access Music Group (released April 10, 2012)
  25. ^ Venta, Lance (December 1, 2014). "CBS Beasley Deal Closes". RadioInsight. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  26. ^ "CBS Radio Has Novel Argument to Legal Demand to Stop Playing Pre-1972 Songs". The Hollywood Reporter. October 21, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  27. ^ "CBS Beats Lawsuit Over Pre-1972 Songs With Bold Copyright Argument". The Hollywood Reporter. June 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  28. ^ "CBS Radio Files for IPO as Parent Plans to Jettison Business". Bloomberg.com. July 8, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  29. ^ "It's the end of The End 107.9. Format will move down the dial ahead of planned merger". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  30. ^ "Entercom/CBS Radio Place Future Spin-Offs In Divestiture Trust – RadioInsight". RadioInsight. March 21, 2017.
  31. ^ Hu, Cherie (November 11, 2017). "Entercom Finalizes Merger With CBS Radio, Becoming No. 2 Radio Operator in US". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
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  34. ^ "Stations". CBS Sports Radio. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  35. ^ a b "Stern Gets Old Tapes, CBS Gets $2M". CBS News. May 25, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  36. ^ CBS Radio files lawsuit against Stern, Sirius CBC March 1, 2006
  37. ^ "FMQB: Howard Stern Attains Broadcast Archives From CBS Radio, Settles Suit". Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  38. ^ Levine, Bruce (June 4, 2014). "Levine: CBS Radio Gains Cubs Broadcasting Rights". chicago.cbslocal.com. CBS Chicago. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  39. ^ Viviano, Mark (January 13, 2015). "Orioles Return to CBS Radio". CBS Baltimore. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
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