In this week’s issue… Bills split from WGR – WNED-FM files for commercial operation – Morning shifts in Maine, PA – Remembering Syracuse’s McElvein, Ockert – New leadership at WNYC
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*In an ideal world, say one with higher-quality officiating in playoff games, we’d be over the moon right now about the Buffalo Bills appearing in the Super Bowl.
This, alas, is an imperfect world, and so while we’re writing a Bills story as our lead, it’s not about all the extensive coverage from western New York broadcasters of Josh Allen and company. (Sigh.)
Instead, the Bills are in the news this week because of team owner Terry Pegula’s decision to move radio broadcast rights for his teams (including the Sabres) away from longtime partner Audacy and WGR (550) after 14 years together.
For the 2026 Bills season and the 2026-27 Sabres season, the Pegulas will take radio play-by-play production in-house, working with Good Karma Brands on what they say will be an expansion of radio coverage across a larger swath of western New York and southern Ontario. Despite some initial misguided coverage in Buffalo that suggested Bills and Sabres games would end up being available only on streaming, that doesn’t appear to be the plan, and with no new broadcast outlets announced, it’s entirely possible that the teams’ games could even remain on WGR under the new arrangement, though it’s more likely that there will be new Buffalo radio homes for both teams.
(It’s also not clear whether the new deal will include the Pegulas’ third Buffalo team, the Buffalo Bandits, whose lacrosse games air on WGR’s Audacy sister station, WWKB 1520.)
What is changing, starting this week, is the Bills’ “One Bills Live” daily talk show with Chris Brown and Steve Tasker. Instead of airing on WGR and Rochester’s WROC (950/95.7), it will stream on the Bills’ website and will continue its TV simulcast on MSG Network.
We’ll be following this story closely to see how WGR and WROC make up for the loss of “One Bills Live” and the Bills and Sabres, and possibly even more big changes coming soon to WGR.
The 2026 Tower Site Calendar was the final edition, and there will no longer be a Fybush Media Store.
We still have some old calendars and some books, so if you’ve been planning to buy some but just haven’t gotten around to it — this week is your last chance.
Go to our store now and get your favorite tower pin-ups!
Not sure what pictures are in which calendars? Ask Lisa — she’ll tell you.
Looking to get into station ownership? Our StationSale division has some great new listings for you, including a very successful multimedia combo including radio/digital/print in one of the finest small markets in the region, a major market FM translator opportunity, a profitable Midwest FM, an inexpensive entry into a fast-growing Western market, and a turnkey profitable FM/AM/translator small-market combo that’s ready for a new owner. Drop me a line at scott@fybush.com and I’ll set you up with an NDA and all the details…
And if your noncommercial FM station is ready to think about translators, there’s a filing window coming this fall from the FCC and it’s the perfect time to start making plans.
In this week’s issue… iHeart cuts leave some small markets vacant - Townsquare makes more NJ moves - Format shuffles in the Connecticut River Valley - Veteran meteorologists retire - Toronto AM seeks FM voice
In this week’s issue… FCC, licensees prepare for translator window - Ithaca exec moves on - Border gets the Lake back - Malloy returns to NJ 101.5 - AMs sell in MA, CT - Windsor vet retires
In this week’s issue… NYC veteran leaves desk - Bulldozers take down some Boston history - Public radio sale in PA - Family adds FM - CKNX celebrates centennial
In this week’s issue… NJ PBS enters new era - Adam 12's new Boston gig - Audacy relocates studios - NYC morning host plans retirement - CHUM, Flow retool in Toronto - Remembering Rocky Allen, Pittsburgh's Negri
