Ernie Anastos, an American news anchor and talk show host, died on March 12, 2026, at age 82.
An Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, he hosted WABC’s Positively Ernie, a program focused on uplifting stories and interviews, and later presented the nationally syndicated television show Positively America. He anchored evening newscasts at UPN 9, ABC 7, CBS 2 and FOX 5 in New York, covered events including the September 11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic, and interviewed figures including Jimmy Carter, George H.
W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev and Desmond Tutu. In 2017, New York City designated March 21 as Ernie Anastos Day.
Ernie Anastos (July 12, 1943 – March 12, 2026) was an American Emmy award-winning television news anchor and talk show host on WABC (770 AM) with Positively Ernie focusing on uplifting stories and interviews. He was also a children’s author and host of his own nationally syndicated TV show, Positively America. He most visibly anchored the evening news at four flagship network stations in New York: UPN 9 (now My9), ABC 7, CBS 2, and FOX 5. In 2017, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio honored Anastos by designating every March 21 to be Ernie Anastos Day.