This is a good theme, but I have to admit I MUCH prefer the prior imaging package WCBS used from the beginning of Gulf War I until whenever this replaced it. You can hear that TOH bed by searching YouTube for "Classic CBS Radio Stagers and Sounders". It's the first item on that, uh, "video".
I was shocked when I was on the NMSA and was listening to this theme, and found out this was used on WDIV for many years. It sounds too harsh, even if the AM signal waters it down. I prefer the old sounder package.
A variation of this cut is still used on WTOP-FM in Washington, D.C. as the :59 top of hour before CBS Radio News and the bottom-of-hour open. They began using some other cue about a year ago for the local open at :03.
I know! But it is strange, because I can't find the WTOP version in the First news package. Did WTOP producer only change the ''pitch'' or is is a new track composed especially for WTOP ?
There are some elements in WTOP's cue that simply aren't in this cut, so it might have been custom made. There's a small orchestral swell at about :15 and then the high-pitch melody comes in, plus at the end there's a hard 2-note orchestral hit (not counting the CBS News "bong", of course).
WTOP's traffic sounder is exactly the same as that of 1010 WINS and WBZ Newsradio-1030 Boston. Don't know about KYW That signal doesn't come in to well up here in Vermont. My cousin lives in Maryland.. That's how I know of WTOP... too bad they aren't still on 1500. I can get that signal in Vermont all night long.
KYW always had their own sounder because of their long time signature in their sounder package. (reference on the TV side had the signature in their themes back in the 90s.) WBZ and WINS never had the same exact sounder, just it had a different sig.
@devswartz -- I've had the same curiosity that your comment reflects. I'm only guessing, but I think WTOP played around with it and edited a version cut to match their timing needs exactly, but I have to emphasize, that's just a guess. I've noticed they often fail the timing on it or they just roll it late, thus the CBS time tone tramples the close of this sounder, which I never-ever liked, but WCBS cut theirs differently and it doesn't sound quite as bad. Just my opinion.
@devswartz -- May I further comment. As my other post mentions, WTOP very often winds up running the close of the sounder together with the open of CBS News on the hour. It's simply awful-sounding. I haven't tuned into WCBS for quite a while, but they've done a MUCH better job of it by using the sounder as a bed under the news tease, with the end arriving and enough time to announce, "At the tone, WCBS news time is ?? o'clock ... BOING!" Beautiful! WTOP? Really bad! Just my opinion.
I only wish they had the 1010 WINS sounders. Those sounders are just slightly better than this one. Especially the 20 minute theme.
transvideos1992 1 month ago
Check out the BBC Radio 2 theme for the Steve Wright show...could be the next WCBS Newsradio 88 theme!
Pookatube 8 months ago
That Theme is also used by WCPO in Cincinnati,Ohio back when they are CBS AFFILIATE and THE END...
WCPO is now an ABC AFFILIATE in 1996...
ABSCBNCBS 8 months ago
Hey do you know the name of this? Is is just "wcbs news theme" or something like that?
Rockthered8 9 months ago
Anybody know where I can find a clip of WCBS' traffic sounder that plays on the 8's?
Rockthered8 11 months ago
@Rockthered8 Do you have some interesting news music to trade ? ;-)
QCnewsmusic 11 months ago
@QCnewsmusic I have some WINS stuff... but thats about it.
Rockthered8 11 months ago
This is a good theme, but I have to admit I MUCH prefer the prior imaging package WCBS used from the beginning of Gulf War I until whenever this replaced it. You can hear that TOH bed by searching YouTube for "Classic CBS Radio Stagers and Sounders". It's the first item on that, uh, "video".
Bloodybunny 1 year ago
This is a great news theme......I listen to WCBS everyday.......Listen to this all the time.....
soundboard18 2 years ago
I'm an original New Yorker...it's always nice to turn WCBS online and listen to how things are going in the Greatest City in the World!
lanebd00 2 years ago 3
@lanebd00 What about London?
scottknitter 1 year ago
@scottknitter London's nice...but not the Greatest!
lanebd00 1 year ago
Who knew that news music would be on radio dial?
bigvoice313 2 years ago
I was shocked when I was on the NMSA and was listening to this theme, and found out this was used on WDIV for many years. It sounds too harsh, even if the AM signal waters it down. I prefer the old sounder package.
chyrongeek 2 years ago
A variation of this cut is still used on WTOP-FM in Washington, D.C. as the :59 top of hour before CBS Radio News and the bottom-of-hour open. They began using some other cue about a year ago for the local open at :03.
devswartz 2 years ago
I know! But it is strange, because I can't find the WTOP version in the First news package. Did WTOP producer only change the ''pitch'' or is is a new track composed especially for WTOP ?
QCnewsmusic 2 years ago
There are some elements in WTOP's cue that simply aren't in this cut, so it might have been custom made. There's a small orchestral swell at about :15 and then the high-pitch melody comes in, plus at the end there's a hard 2-note orchestral hit (not counting the CBS News "bong", of course).
devswartz 2 years ago
WTOP's traffic sounder is exactly the same as that of 1010 WINS and WBZ Newsradio-1030 Boston. Don't know about KYW That signal doesn't come in to well up here in Vermont. My cousin lives in Maryland.. That's how I know of WTOP... too bad they aren't still on 1500. I can get that signal in Vermont all night long.
moosewelch 2 years ago
KYW always had their own sounder because of their long time signature in their sounder package. (reference on the TV side had the signature in their themes back in the 90s.) WBZ and WINS never had the same exact sounder, just it had a different sig.
chyrongeek 2 years ago
@QCnewsmusic I heard it on WTOP too. But Back in the early 1990's WCBS 880 used a variation of the 1993 KCBS 740 theme in SFO.
dinfg6 2 days ago
@devswartz -- I've had the same curiosity that your comment reflects. I'm only guessing, but I think WTOP played around with it and edited a version cut to match their timing needs exactly, but I have to emphasize, that's just a guess. I've noticed they often fail the timing on it or they just roll it late, thus the CBS time tone tramples the close of this sounder, which I never-ever liked, but WCBS cut theirs differently and it doesn't sound quite as bad. Just my opinion.
tonyny77 1 month ago
@devswartz -- May I further comment. As my other post mentions, WTOP very often winds up running the close of the sounder together with the open of CBS News on the hour. It's simply awful-sounding. I haven't tuned into WCBS for quite a while, but they've done a MUCH better job of it by using the sounder as a bed under the news tease, with the end arriving and enough time to announce, "At the tone, WCBS news time is ?? o'clock ... BOING!" Beautiful! WTOP? Really bad! Just my opinion.
tonyny77 1 month ago
the most epic theme
notyourraven 2 years ago 4
All right, First News.
JimmySand9 2 years ago
It's amazing that even after all these years, news themes still have a bit of Morse Code rhythm to them.
vwestlife 2 years ago 8