When Red Apple Media owner John Catsimatidis purchased 77 WABC Radio from Cumulus Media in 2019, he pledged to make the radio station great again. As the station embarks on a new year, station management feels like it’s on the path to making that happen.
In a news release received by Barrett News Media, WABC touted its centennial celebration as a recognition of service to the community coupled with a vision for what WABC will look like in 2023 and into the future.
“77 WABC has been on the air during the Roaring ’20s, The Great Depression, two World Wars, the assassination of John F Kennedy, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and September 11th, 2001,” said Chad Lopez, President, Red Apple Media.
Catsimatidis purchased WABC during the first month of the pandemic.
“John Catsimaidis, thank you for making WABC fun again. And thank you for bringing success back to this crown jewel of American radio,” said WABC host James Golden.
Earlier this year, the WABC family suffered a tragedy when morning show co-host Bernie died after a battle with prostate cancer.
“His absence will leave a hole not just at WABC but across the airwaves and in America’s hearts. Bernie was our brother, our friend, our mentor, our colleague,” Lopez wrote in an email to staff at the time.
Through ups and downs, WABC Radio heads into 2023 optimistic about its current direction. The station has a live and local lineup and a slew of familiar voices to keep listeners coming back.
“The son of the soil who grew up listening to WABC and now we’re back to being the number one talk radio station in the nation,” host Curtis Sliwa said.
