Legendary NYC anchor, host Ernie Anastos dead at 82

Longtime New York City anchor Ernie Anastos has died at 82.

In a career spanning 50 years, Anastos anchored and hosted programming for ABC’s WABC, CBS’s WCBS, Fox’s WNYW and WWOR in the tristate market. 

He started his run in the region in 1978 when WABC hired him as an anchor. He took over the 11 p.m. newscast in November of that year and would hold that role until 1982, while also appearing on the 5 p.m.

He was removed from the 5 and 11 p.m. broadcasts for a period before returning in 1984 and continuing to anchor until 1989.

That year, he moved to WCBS as its main anchor, where he would anchor over two separate stints. In between, he hosted various radio and television programs, including ones for WWOR and Lifetime. 

In 2005, he returned to New York television after signing a five-year contract with the market’s Fox station, WNYW. There he anchored at 6 p.m. 

In 2019, he announced he would leave WNYW to pursue coursework at Harvard Business School.

Anastos owned his own production company, which helped produce “New York Star of the Day,” “Ernie Anastos in New York” and “Positively Ernie” for both television and radio.

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He was also the owner of several radio stations in New York State and New England. 

Anastos has been honored with more than 30 Emmy awards and nominations for his work across television. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy.

Before coming to New York City, Anastos worked at TV stations in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island.

Even in the weeks leading up to his death, Anastos was an advocate for the role journalism plays in society. 

Anastos died March 12, 2026.