Red Apple Media Launches Worldwide News Network, Taps Lee Harris As VP Of News.

Red Apple Media is expanding its ambitions in news with the launch of the Worldwide News Network, a new global audio platform designed to deliver real-time reporting to listeners across the U.S. and internationally.

Owner and CEO John Catsimatidis said the move builds on the existing distribution footprint of talk WABC New York (770), which already reaches audiences nationwide and in more than 170 countries through its digital channels.

“Today’s digital technology gives us the power to deliver the truth instantly, not just across America, but across Europe and around the globe,” Catsimatidis said. “The Worldwide News Network is the natural next step in building a global destination for fair, balanced, no-nonsense news people can trust.”

To lead the initiative, the company has hired Lee Harris as Vice President of News for both WABC and the new network. Harris, a 2024 inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame, brings more than three decades of newsroom leadership and on-air experience.

Red Apple Media President Chad Lopez said the hire reflects the company’s push to scale its news operation globally. “Audio news consumption is no longer confined by geography, signal strength, or time zone,” Lopez said. “Listeners want immediate access to credible reporting wherever they are, whenever news breaks.”

The Worldwide News Network is envisioned as a 24/7 audio service distributed across broadcast radio, streaming platforms, mobile apps, smart speakers, podcasts, and syndication partners, positioning Red Apple Audio Networks for a broader international presence.

Harris spent 30 years as a morning newscaster at Audacy’s all-news WINS New York (1010), where he became a familiar voice during major breaking news events, including the September 11 attacks. His career also includes international consulting work, helping launch Moscow’s Kommersant FM as a U.S.-style all-news station, and roles with emerging cable outlet NewsNation.

“John Catsimatidis has never thought small, and this venture is no exception,” Harris said. “The Worldwide News Network is an ambitious, forward-looking platform designed for how people consume information today.”

With the launch, Red Apple Media is positioning WABC and its audio network division for what it sees as the next phase of growth — one driven by global distribution, on-demand listening, and the continued evolution of audio news consumption.