NYSBA Names John Catsimatidis, CEO of Red Apple Media, Broadcaster of the Year for 2025

The Board of Directors for the New York State Broadcasters Association, Inc. has named Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis the New York Broadcaster of the Year for 2025. He will be honored at the NYSBA Broadcast Leadership and Hall of Fame Luncheon in New York City in the Rainbow Room on October 22^nd.

David Donovan, President of the New York State Broadcasters Association, said, “We are honored to have him as NYSBA’s Broadcaster of the Year. John has had unparalleled success turning around 77WABC and expanding Red Apple Media throughout the country. He has led legislative efforts to keep AM radio in vehicles, a vital issue for all New Yorkers.”

“Thank you, Dave and the Board of the New York State Broadcasters Association for this honor,” said John Catsimatidis, Owner of Red Apple Media and 77WABC. “Radio is an integral part of listeners’ lives and often the only source of information during times of disaster. I ask everyone in radio to alert their listeners that car manufacturers are risking lives by taking AM off the dashboard of new cars. Together, we can stop this, and we must stop it.”

John Catsimatidis, a self-made billionaire and philanthropist, is the American dream come true. He is CEO of the Red Apple Group, which owns and operates the Gristedes grocery chain, the United Refining Company, and Red Apple Media.

John entered the media business with the purchase of 77WABC in March 2020. Since then, he defied convention and introduced music radio weekends on a talk station. He purchased WLIR-FM, Suffolk Country, WRCR-AM, Rockland County, and launched the Red Apple Audio Networks to syndicate the high profile, well-respected 77WABC on-air personalities nationwide. Today, Red Apple Audio Networks programming can be heard on 495 affiliates.

In addition, John hosts the nationally syndicated Cats Roundtable, every Sunday morning from 8am to 10am, and co-hosts the award-winning afternoon drive Cats & Cosby with Rita Cosby from 5pm to 6pm every weekday. His relationships across the political spectrum and business arenas give him unprecedented access to the biggest and most influential newsmakers, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Senators Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, and more.

John and his wife Margo never forget their roots and are big supporters of numerous philanthropic organizations. In addition to their personal contributions to charitable causes, John and Margo established the WABC Radio Foundation that raises money for distribution to organizations that deliver assistance to those in need.

For more information, go to https://www.nysbroadcasters.org/hall-of-fame 

Contact David Donovan at ddonovan@nysbroadcasters.org