Sid Rosenberg’s 10 Years at WABC Reflect Station Growth and Expanding Influence

What originated as a New York–based morning show now operates on a far wider stage. Sid & Friends in the Morning, hosted by Sid Rosenberg on 77 WABC, combines the reach of a 50,000-watt clear-channel AM radio signal—heard across much of the Eastern U.S. and Canada overnight—with a global digital footprint through streaming and podcast distribution. Carried via the WABC app and major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, TuneIn, and Amazon, the program now functions as a hybrid broadcast model, extending traditional radio’s influence well beyond the New York market.

That expanded reach has positioned the show as a consistent entry point into major international and national news cycles. Rosenberg regularly hosts senior political figures including President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, alongside U.S. senators, members of Congress, governors, ambassadors, and local leaders. Interviews originating on the program are frequently cited or rebroadcast by local, national, and international outlets, underscoring the show’s role as a source—not just a commentator—within the broader media ecosystem.

The radio station recently marked the 10-year anniversary of Sid Rosenberg with a seven-hour live broadcast from Studio 77, underscoring both the host’s longevity in New York’s most competitive daypart and the station’s continued resurgence under Red Apple Media ownership.

Rosenberg celebrated his return to the New York radio market and was partnered up with his former Imus in the Morning colleague and executive producer of that show, Bernard McGuirk, which gained traction with the Bernie and Sid Show, until his unfortunate passing.  Management scrambled to figure out what to do next, taking a big gamble on a solo-host spot that paid dividends, ultimately spinning off into the hugely popular and highly rated morning radio show, Sid and Friends in the Morning.

The extended anniversary broadcast functioned as both a retrospective and a forward-looking statement for the station, featuring live and remote appearances from leading national political and media figures including President Donald J. Trump, Lara Trump, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Bruce Blakeman, Bill O’Reilly, and veteran broadcaster Charles McCord. The show generated immediate national news pickup following Rosenberg’s on-air interview with President Trump, with excerpts circulating across print, digital, and social media platforms before the broadcast concluded.

Other regular guests stopped by in-studio, or via phone including former Governor David Paterson, former Congressman Peter King, Bo Dietl, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, WABC bosses John and Margo Catsimatidis, as well as Chad Lopez.

A central moment of the program came with the presentation of the New York State Broadcasters Association Service to New York Award, recognizing Rosenberg’s contributions to radio and public discourse. The honor was announced live by David Donovan, president of the New York State Broadcasters Association, and formally presented by Lopez, President of Red Apple Media and an NYSBA board member.

Lopez, who originally brought Rosenberg to WABC, framed the award as both an industry endorsement and a validation of long-term programming strategy, crediting Rosenberg as a central driver of the station’s growth and influence during the past decade. The recognition placed Rosenberg among a select group of broadcasters cited for sustained listener connection and impact.

Station owner/operator John Catsimatidis used the anniversary to reflect on Red Apple Media’s acquisition of WABC and the broader effort to reposition talk radio as a relevant, growth-oriented platform in New York. Catsimatidis emphasized Rosenberg’s role as a foundational voice in that strategy, citing authenticity, consistency, and audience trust as key differentiators in a fragmented media environment.

Rosenberg, now firmly established as WABC’s primary morning-drive voice, used the milestone to reinforce the show’s forward trajectory rather than dwell on its origins. He credited station leadership, his on-air and production team, and the audience for allowing the radio show to evolve into a dominant presence in New York’s morning drive while maintaining a distinct, personality-driven format.

The extended broadcast also highlighted WABC’s wider programming bench, with references and cross-acknowledgments from fellow station hosts and contributors throughout the day. Industry observers noted the event as a clear signal of stability and confidence at a time when legacy radio outlets continue to face structural pressure.

The scope of the anniversary lineup made clear that Sid & Friends is not only entertaining radio, but a coveted must be booked on show for newsmakers and political leaders looking to get their message out. The program has become an influential powerhouse, offering direct access to millions of listeners across New York and beyond—an important factor in local, state, and national politics.

Rosenberg’s anniversary broadcast reflects a broader industry reality: local radio is no longer confined to local impact. While many traditional talk outlets have struggled, Sid & Friends in the Morning demonstrates how personality-driven programming, paired with digital distribution and sustained audience trust, have international relevance and influence. The show’s extensive post–October 7 coverage—including multiple live broadcasts from Israel—expanded its resonance with Israeli audiences and the global Jewish community, reinforcing radio’s continued role during moments of international crisis.

Unlike fragmented digital commentary or short-form social media clips, long-form radio interviews allow political leaders and policymakers to speak at length, unfiltered, and in real time. That format—combined with Rosenberg’s direct, conversational interviewing style—has made the show a preferred venue for figures looking to communicate clearly and forcefully, without the constraints of sound bites or editorial overlays.

For guests, the draw is reach and impact; for the station, consistent ratings strength; and for Rosenberg, it reflects his evolution into a skilled interviewer of varied guests and intimate knowledge of current events, delivering daily fresh content each morning in his unmistakable Brooklyn-born, New York style.

With a decade completed and ratings momentum intact, Sid & Friends in the Morning enters its next phase positioned not as a legacy holdover, but as an anchor and active pillar in WABC’s ongoing programming formula.