Ever tried to find the local news on WCBS-TV and ended up staring at a "Price is Right" rerun or a random infomercial? It happens. A lot. Most folks assume the CBS New York schedule is a fixed monolith that never changes, but if you live in the Tri-State area, you know that’s basically a myth. Between breaking news in Midtown, a Giants or Jets game running long, and the constant shift toward streaming, keeping track of what’s actually on Channel 2 is a bit of a headache.
Honestly, it's confusing.
One minute you're expecting Kristine Johnson and Maurice DuBois to give you the 5:00 PM update, and the next, you’re watching a pre-recorded special because there’s a golf tournament in California. If you’re trying to plan your evening around the local broadcast, you need more than just a "set it and forget it" mindset. You need to know how the network prioritizes its various feeds—from the traditional over-the-air signal to the 24/7 digital stream known as CBS News New York.
Why the CBS New York Schedule Isn't Just One Thing Anymore
The biggest mistake people make is thinking there’s only one schedule. There isn't. Back in the day, you had the TV Guide and that was the law. Now, WCBS-TV (the flagship station) and its digital counterparts operate on two different tracks.
If you are watching on a traditional TV with an antenna or cable box, you’re on the broadcast clock. This is the heavy hitter. It’s where CBS Mornings starts your day at 7:00 AM, followed by the heavy hitters of daytime TV like The Young and the Restless. But then there’s the streaming side. CBS News New York (formerly CBSN New York) is a totally different beast. It’s a 24-hour cycle.
Sometimes they mirror each other. Often, they don't.
For example, if a massive storm is hitting Long Island at 2:00 PM on a Tuesday, the broadcast channel might stay with its regularly scheduled programming—maybe a soap opera or a talk show—while the digital stream goes into wall-to-wall live coverage. If you’re looking for the CBS New York schedule because you want local news, you have to decide which platform you’re actually talking about. Most people are looking for the "main" channel, but the "smart" viewers have both bookmarked.
The Typical Weekday Morning Grind
Mornings in New York are fast. WCBS understands that. The day usually kicks off early—we're talking 4:30 AM early—with CBS 2 News This Morning. This is the bread and butter for commuters. It’s heavy on the "First Alert Weather" and traffic reports for the GWB and the Lincoln Tunnel.
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Around 7:00 AM, the local team hands off the baton to the national crew for CBS Mornings. This is where Gayle King and the team take over. But here is a little secret: if you hate national news and just want to know why the L train isn't running, you can switch over to the streaming app (Paramount+ or the CBS News app) and usually find continued local segments or loops of the morning's biggest Tri-State stories.
The Daytime Power Shift
Mid-morning to early afternoon is surprisingly stable. You’ve got The Price is Right at 11:00 AM. It’s a classic for a reason. Then comes the noon news. After that, it’s the "Soap Block." We’re talking The Young and the Restless followed by The Bold and the Beautiful. These shows have fanbases that do not mess around. If a news event pre-empts a cliffhanger in Genoa City, the station's switchboard (or more likely their X/Twitter mentions) absolutely lights up.
But then comes the 3:00 PM hour. This is where the CBS New York schedule gets interesting because it’s often filled with syndicated content. Shows like Let's Make a Deal or various talk shows occupy this space before the heavy news block starts.
Understanding the "Big News" Block
When most people search for the schedule, they want the evening news. New York is a news town. The block usually starts at 5:00 PM.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Local news. This is where you get the deep dives into city politics, local crime, and human interest stories from the boroughs.
- 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM: More local news, but often a bit faster-paced as people are getting home from work.
- 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM: The CBS Evening News. This is national. It’s the prestige slot.
- 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Usually Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!—though in New York, these legendary game shows are actually on ABC (WABC-7). CBS New York typically fills this with Entertainment Tonight or similar syndicated fare.
Wait. Did you catch that?
Yeah, the game show thing trips people up constantly. If you’re looking for Pat Sajak's successor or Ken Jennings on the CBS New York schedule, you’re in the wrong place. Channel 2 usually goes with Inside Edition or ET. It’s a celebrity-heavy hour before the Prime Time shows kick in at 8:00 PM.
Prime Time and the Late Night Transition
Prime time is where the big money is. NCIS, FBI, Survivor, 60 Minutes. This is national programming controlled by the network, not the local New York station. However, the local station gets back in the driver's seat at 11:00 PM.
The 11:00 PM news is the final word of the day. It’s usually shorter, punchier, and prepares you for the next morning's weather. Then, the handoff to late-night happens. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert starts at 11:35 PM, followed by After Midnight.
The Weekend Chaos Factor: Sports and Specials
If you think the weekday schedule is predictable, the weekend will break your brain.
Sports are the ultimate disruptor. Between the NFL on CBS, PGA Tour golf, and NCAA basketball, the CBS New York schedule on Saturdays and Sundays is basically a suggestion. During football season, if the Jets or Giants are playing in the late window (4:25 PM ET), the news is getting pushed. Period.
Sometimes the news is delayed by 15 minutes; sometimes it’s pushed by an hour. If you’re a fan of 60 Minutes, you know the "ticking clock" doesn't always start at 7:00 PM on the dot during the fall. It starts whenever the whistle blows. This is where the digital streaming version of CBS New York actually wins—they often run their scheduled news programs on time regardless of what the football game is doing on the main channel.
How to Actually Get Accurate Info
Don't trust the "Info" button on your remote 100% of the time. It’s often wrong for live events. Instead, look at these three sources:
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- The Official WCBS-TV Website: They have a "Schedule" tab that is updated with the most recent programming changes, especially for local news specials.
- Social Media: Follow the meteorologists. Seriously. Lonnie Quinn or the current weather team are usually the first to post if a show is being pre-empted by a weather emergency.
- The CBS News App: Select "New York" as your local station. This gives you the live stream and the "VOD" (Video on Demand) clips of segments you might have missed.
Misconceptions About Streaming vs. Broadcast
A common myth is that you can’t watch the CBS New York schedule without a cable subscription. That’s just not true anymore.
You can get Channel 2 over the air with a simple $20 antenna if you live in the city or the immediate suburbs. It’s free HD. Additionally, Paramount+ (the Premium tier) carries the live local broadcast of WCBS-TV. If you’re on the lower tier, you get the national feed but might miss the specific New York local news segments.
Also, the 24/7 streaming news channel (CBS News New York) is free on Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, and the CBS website. You don’t need to pay a dime to see the local news, even if you can't see the prime-time shows like Tracker or The Equalizer.
Actionable Steps for the Viewer
If you want to stay on top of your viewing habits and stop missing your shows, do these three things right now:
- Sync your DVR to the "Series" setting with "Padding": If you record the 11:00 PM news or a Sunday night show, add 30 minutes of "padding" in your DVR settings. This accounts for sports overruns.
- Download the CBS News App: Set the location to New York. This is your backup. If the TV in the living room is taken, or the schedule is wonky, the stream is usually more consistent for news.
- Check the "First Alert" Weather Forecast: In New York, the weather dictates the schedule. If there’s a "Code Red" or "First Alert" day, expect the 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM news blocks to expand and potentially bump syndicated shows.
The CBS New York schedule is a living breathing thing. It’s influenced by the traffic on the BQE, the score of the Giants game, and whatever is happening at City Hall. Treat the "published" schedule as a guide, but keep your apps ready for the reality of live TV in the greatest city in the world.