NYSBA Names Catsimatidis ’25 NY Broadcaster

• The Board of Directors for the New York State Broadcasters Association, Inc. (NYSBA) has named Red Apple Media CEO John Catsimatidis the New York Broadcaster of the Year for 2025.

David Donovan, President of the New York State Broadcasters Association, said, “We are honored to have [John] 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 also led legislative efforts to keep AM radio in vehicles, a vital issue for all New Yorkers.”

Catsimatidis, a self-made billionaire and philanthropist, is CEO of the Red Apple Group, which owns and operates the Gristedes grocery chain, the United Refining Company, and Red Apple Media. He entered the media business with the purchase of 77WABC/New York in March 2020, and later purchased WLIR-FM in Suffolk Country and WRCR-AM in Rockland County, and launched the Red Apple Audio Networks to syndicate 77WABC on-air personalities nationwide. Today, Red Apple Audio Networks programming can be heard on 495 affiliates.

Catsimatidis also hosts the nationally syndicated Cats Roundtable, Sundays from 8-10am, and co-hosts Cats & Cosby with Rita Cosby weekdays from 5-6pm.

“Thank you, Dave and the Board of the New York State Broadcasters Association for this honor,” said Catsimatidis. “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.”

Catsimatidis will be honored at the NYSBA Broadcast Leadership and Hall of Fame Luncheon at  New York City’s iconic Rainbow Room on October 22.