ABC News Radio
Encyclopedia
ABC News Radio is the radio service of ABC News
, a division of the ABC Television Network
. Formerly known as ABC Radio News, ABC News Radio feeds, through Cumulus Media Networks, newscasts on the hour to its more than 2,000 affiliates. ABC News Radio is the largest commercial radio news organization in the US.
ABC Radio aired the first broadcast report of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
on November 22, 1963. Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas at 18:30 UTC and Don Gardiner anchored the initial bulletin at 18:36:50 UTC, minutes before any other radio or television network.
Beginning in the late 1950s, ABC
fed hourly newscasts to affiliates at :55 past the hour until January 1, 1968, when the singular ABC radio network "split" into four separate and distinct programming services. The American Contemporary Network, on major-market music stations like WABC
New York, aired news at :55. American Information Network news ran at the top of the hour on major-market stations like KGO
San Francisco. The American FM Network (now ABC News Now) carried news geared toward adult FM listeners at :15 past, while the American Entertainment Network had news at the bottom of the hour.
Before the "split," ABC reached an understanding with the FCC concerning the "Chain Broadcasting" rule, which forced the sale of NBC's Blue network and enabled ABC's creation in 1943. Each of the four networks could be cleared only when no other ABC network was on the air in a particular market. Though each of the four new "networks" were distributed to all member radio stations nationally over the same broadcast-quality telephone line, the move allowed ABC to have as many as four affiliates in one city—a major competitive advantage and a dramatic turning point in the history of network radio. Two additional news networks, ABC Rock and Direction, were added on January 4, 1982 after the network became a satellite-delivered service. The network was strict in its insistence that there be no simultaneous broadcast of more than a single network in a market, except during crisis or special event coverage.
Of the six networks, only Information and Entertainment remain as separate newscast services today, with their programming delivered via satellite. The "Information" network newscasts clear on major-market stations like WABC New York, KABC
Los Angeles
, WLS
Chicago, KGO
San Francisco
, WMAL Washington, and WBAP Ft. Worth/Dallas
(all of which were owned by ABC prior to the sale to Citadel Broadcasting
) and many other large market stations. "Entertainment" network news airs mainly on small and medium-market stations. These ABC News Radio newscasts originate from the news division's bureaus in New York, Washington and Los Angeles and air exactly at the top of the hour. The standard format is the same for both, with the Entertainment network having shorter stories and the Information network having slightly longer stories and more global coverage.
Individual soundbites and reporter packages are fed to stations via satellite and an affiliate website. In 2006, ABC News Radio launched an internet-delivered "FM
" news product targeted toward a younger music audience, often customized for individual affiliates.
In addition to the top-of-the-hour newscasts, ABC News also provides its radio affiliates with headlines, briefs and "status reports" that air at :30, :50, :10, and :20 and :40 past the hour, as well as special reports, special event coverage and longform programming.
ABC News Radio also produces "News and Comment", which originates from Chicago and began in 1951. On January 1, 1968 Paul Harvey
became a part of ABC's American Entertainment Network, although the program was also heard on stations affiliated with all four ABC Networks, if the "Entertainment" affiliate was not as powerful as another ABC affiliate in a given market. After Paul Harvey's death on February 28, 2009; Gil Gross
took over the "News & Comment" program less than a month later. The "News and Comment" time slot is currently held by Doug Limerick
.
In addition, Charles Gibson
anchored the 5PM EST Information Network newscast on weekdays before he retired in 2009.
Washington
Los Angeles
London
Miami
Dallas
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, a division of the ABC Television Network
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. Formerly known as ABC Radio News, ABC News Radio feeds, through Cumulus Media Networks, newscasts on the hour to its more than 2,000 affiliates. ABC News Radio is the largest commercial radio news organization in the US.
ABC Radio aired the first broadcast report of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
on November 22, 1963. Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas at 18:30 UTC and Don Gardiner anchored the initial bulletin at 18:36:50 UTC, minutes before any other radio or television network.
Beginning in the late 1950s, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
fed hourly newscasts to affiliates at :55 past the hour until January 1, 1968, when the singular ABC radio network "split" into four separate and distinct programming services. The American Contemporary Network, on major-market music stations like WABC
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
New York, aired news at :55. American Information Network news ran at the top of the hour on major-market stations like KGO
KGO (AM)
KGO is a news/talk-format radio station radio with offices and studios in San Francisco, California. Unlike most other American news/talk stations, KGO originates nearly all of its own programming locally. Since 1978, KGO radio has received Arbitron's number-one ranking in the Bay Area...
San Francisco. The American FM Network (now ABC News Now) carried news geared toward adult FM listeners at :15 past, while the American Entertainment Network had news at the bottom of the hour.
Before the "split," ABC reached an understanding with the FCC concerning the "Chain Broadcasting" rule, which forced the sale of NBC's Blue network and enabled ABC's creation in 1943. Each of the four networks could be cleared only when no other ABC network was on the air in a particular market. Though each of the four new "networks" were distributed to all member radio stations nationally over the same broadcast-quality telephone line, the move allowed ABC to have as many as four affiliates in one city—a major competitive advantage and a dramatic turning point in the history of network radio. Two additional news networks, ABC Rock and Direction, were added on January 4, 1982 after the network became a satellite-delivered service. The network was strict in its insistence that there be no simultaneous broadcast of more than a single network in a market, except during crisis or special event coverage.
Of the six networks, only Information and Entertainment remain as separate newscast services today, with their programming delivered via satellite. The "Information" network newscasts clear on major-market stations like WABC New York, KABC
KABC (AM)
KABC is a Los Angeles radio station, and a West Coast flagship station for the Cumulus Media company. A pioneer of the talk radio format, the station went "all-talk" in 1960 and was one of the first stations to do so...
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, WLS
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
Chicago, KGO
KGO (AM)
KGO is a news/talk-format radio station radio with offices and studios in San Francisco, California. Unlike most other American news/talk stations, KGO originates nearly all of its own programming locally. Since 1978, KGO radio has received Arbitron's number-one ranking in the Bay Area...
San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, WMAL Washington, and WBAP Ft. Worth/Dallas
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area...
(all of which were owned by ABC prior to the sale to Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
) and many other large market stations. "Entertainment" network news airs mainly on small and medium-market stations. These ABC News Radio newscasts originate from the news division's bureaus in New York, Washington and Los Angeles and air exactly at the top of the hour. The standard format is the same for both, with the Entertainment network having shorter stories and the Information network having slightly longer stories and more global coverage.
Individual soundbites and reporter packages are fed to stations via satellite and an affiliate website. In 2006, ABC News Radio launched an internet-delivered "FM
ABC FM News
ABC FM News is an Internet-delivered news radio network distributed by Cumulus Media Networks and licenses the ABC branding from its former owner The Walt Disney Company...
" news product targeted toward a younger music audience, often customized for individual affiliates.
In addition to the top-of-the-hour newscasts, ABC News also provides its radio affiliates with headlines, briefs and "status reports" that air at :30, :50, :10, and :20 and :40 past the hour, as well as special reports, special event coverage and longform programming.
ABC News Radio also produces "News and Comment", which originates from Chicago and began in 1951. On January 1, 1968 Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was an American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. He broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. His listening audience was estimated, at...
became a part of ABC's American Entertainment Network, although the program was also heard on stations affiliated with all four ABC Networks, if the "Entertainment" affiliate was not as powerful as another ABC affiliate in a given market. After Paul Harvey's death on February 28, 2009; Gil Gross
Gil Gross
Gil Gross is an American radio personality. In addition to hosting a show on KGO AM in San Francisco, California on weekday afternoons since 2007, he is a news correspondent for the ABC Radio Networks.-Career:...
took over the "News & Comment" program less than a month later. The "News and Comment" time slot is currently held by Doug Limerick
Doug Limerick
Doug Limerick is an American radio personality. He has been a news correspondent for ABC Radio Networks since 1982. In March 2009, he was chosen as a possible successor to Paul Harvey on the radio show The Rest of the Story...
.
Information Network
- Michael Barr (Weekdays 12-5am EST)
- Doug Limerick (Weekdays 6am-11am EST)
- Cheri Preston (Weekdays 12-5pm EST)
- Brad Wheelis (Weekdays 6-11pm EST)
Entertainment Network
- Richard Davies (Weekday mornings)
- Karen Chase (Weekday mornings)
- Daria Albinger (Monday - Saturday afternoons)
- Richard Cantu (Monday - Wednesday nights)
- Larry Jacobs (Weekday overnights)
- Todd Ant (Weekends, also sports reporter & fill-in sports anchor)
- Andy Field (Substitute)
- Dave Schrieber (Weekend overnights & substitute)
- Chuck Sivertsen (Sunday afternoon & substitute)
In addition, Charles Gibson
Charles Gibson
Charles deWolf "Charlie" Gibson is a former American broadcast television anchor and journalist. He was a host of Good Morning America from 1987 to 1998 and 1999 to 2006 and anchor of World News with Charles Gibson from 2006 to 2009....
anchored the 5PM EST Information Network newscast on weekdays before he retired in 2009.
Correspondents
New York- Jim Hickey
- Aaron KaterskyAaron KaterskyAaron Katersky is a New York based national radio correspondent for ABC News. ABC News is owned by the Walt Disney Company. Katersky attended Syracuse University. He previously worked at KTRH in Houston, WYSR in Syracuse, and WATD in Marshfield....
- David Blaustein
Washington
- Ann ComptonAnn ComptonAnn Compton is an American news reporter and White House correspondent for ABC News Radio.-Career highlights:Compton began her broadcasting career in Virginia, where an internship during her junior year at Hollins College led to a full-time job as the first woman reporting for WDBJ TV, a CBS...
(The White House) - Vic RatnerVic RatnerVic Ratner is a Washington, DC based national correspondent for ABC News Radio. ABC News Radio is a unit of ABC News which is owned by the Walt Disney Company. ABC News Radio is distributed by Citadel Broadcasting.- External links :* *...
(Capitol Hill) - Steven PortnoySteven PortnoySteven Portnoy is a Washington, DC-based national radio correspondent for ABC News, covering US politics, legal affairs, advances in science and technology and breaking stories for the network. He also was a regular host of Ahead of the Curve, a technology-based talk show on ABC News Now, the...
Los Angeles
- Alex StoneAlex StoneAlex Stone is a Los Angeles-based national radio correspondent for ABC News. ABC News is owned by the Walt Disney Company. Stone attended the University of Colorado at Boulder. He previously worked as a reporter at KOA in Denver and KSRO in Santa Rosa, CA....
London
- Linda AlbinLinda AlbinLinda Albin is a London based correspondent for ABC News Radio in the United States. ABC News Radio is a unit of ABC News which is owned by the Walt Disney Company. ABC News Radio is distributed by Citadel Broadcasting....
Miami
- Matt Gutman
Dallas
- Jim Ryan