Legendary New York hip-hop station Hot 97 has announced the launch of a new daily television program titled Hot 97 News, marking a significant strategic shift following a widely reported internal clear-out that reshaped the station’s on-air and digital operations.

The new show is designed as a culture-forward news and commentary platform, focusing on hip-hop, music industry developments, pop culture, and issues shaping the urban community. According to the station, Hot 97 News will deliver daily updates with a sharper editorial edge, blending breaking news, social media conversations, and contextual analysis rather than traditional radio-style reporting.

The announcement comes in the wake of a turbulent period for Hot 97, which recently parted ways with several longtime personalities and staff members as part of a broader restructuring. While the station has not publicly framed the changes as downsizing, industry insiders view the move as a reset aimed at modernizing the brand for a media landscape increasingly driven by video, short-form content, and digital-first audiences.

Hot 97 News is expected to air across broadcast and streaming platforms, reinforcing the station’s pivot toward visual media and round-the-clock content distribution. Executives say the show will also serve as a bridge between radio, social media, and television, positioning Hot 97 as a daily destination for culture conversations beyond music playlists.

Reactions online have been mixed. Some longtime listeners expressed nostalgia for the station’s earlier era, while others welcomed the evolution, arguing that legacy media brands must adapt or risk irrelevance. Media analysts note that Hot 97’s move mirrors a broader trend among radio brands expanding into TV-style programming to compete with podcasts, YouTube channels, and social-first news outlets.

With Hot 97 News, the station is betting that its cultural authority and proximity to hip-hop’s nerve center can translate into a compelling daily news product. Whether the show restores stability after recent upheaval remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Hot 97 is no longer content with being just a radio station.