Lee Harris Joins WABC As ‘Worldwide News Network’ Readies Launch

Why It Matters

The launch provides U.S. radio stations with a domestic alternative to the disappearing CBS News Radio feed, while expanding Red Apple Media’s footprint into the growing global audio‑news market.

Key Takeaways

• Lee Harris appointed VP of News for WABC and Worldwide News Network
• Red Apple Media launches Worldwide News Network, targeting global English‑language radio
• Network will distribute via broadcast, streaming, smart speakers, podcasts, affiliates
• Catsimatidis bought WABC for $12.5 M, now expands to international audio news
• Launch aims to fill gap left by CBS News Radio’s exit

Pulse Analysis

Audio news consumption has surged as listeners shift from traditional AM/FM to digital platforms. WABC’s parent, Red Apple Media, leverages that trend by repurposing its historic New York market strength into a worldwide service. The company’s 2019 $12.5 million acquisition of WABC revived a once‑struggling talk station, boosting ad revenue and expanding its signal to every U.S. state and 178 countries via streaming and syndication. This foundation gives the Worldwide News Network a ready‑made distribution backbone for its ambitious global rollout.

The Worldwide News Network will operate as a full‑scale international audio news service, delivering hourly newscasts, special reports, and breaking‑news bulletins across broadcast radio, mobile apps, smart speakers, podcasts, and affiliate platforms. Veteran journalist Lee Harris, with three decades at WINS and a stint at NewsNation, now steers editorial strategy, ensuring the promised "fair, balanced" coverage. By targeting English‑language stations worldwide, the network sidesteps language barriers while positioning itself as a credible alternative to legacy wire services, especially as CBS News Radio winds down.

For advertisers and station owners, the network offers a unified, high‑quality news feed that can be monetized across multiple channels, reducing the need for separate domestic and international contracts. Its global reach opens new revenue streams in Europe and emerging markets, while the U.S. radio landscape gains a home‑grown source of national and international news. As the industry grapples with audience fragmentation, the Worldwide News Network could set a new standard for scalable, cross‑platform audio journalism, reshaping how news is sourced and sold in the digital age.