Buffalo Bills Radio Network

The Buffalo Bills Radio Network is a broadcast radio network based in Buffalo, New York. Its primary programming is broadcasts of Buffalo Bills home and away games to a network of 23 stations in upstate New York, northwestern Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada.

Previously, the broadcasts originated from WBEN through much of the team's history except for a period from 1971 to 1977 when WKBW was team flagship. WGR briefly carried games in the early 1990s.[1] From 1998 through 2011, the Bills were flagshipped at WGRF, as well as other stations owned by Citadel Broadcasting. When Cumulus Media purchased Citadel in late 2011, it dropped Bills games from all of its stations at the end of the season.[2] Cumulus never fully paid off the money Citadel owed for Bills games, instead eventually seeking to nullify the debt in January 2018 when the company went into bankruptcy.[3] Entercom Communications and Galaxy Communications picked up the rights, restoring broadcasts to WGR for the 2012 season.[4][5]

John Murphy, formerly a sports anchor at WKBW-TV and WIVB-TV in Buffalo, is the current play-by-play announcer, with former Bills offensive lineman Eric Wood as color commentator and WGR employee Sal Capaccio as sideline reporter.

The network is an autonomous organization from the team, and is unique in that it, and not the team itself, was the main sponsor of the Bills' cheerleaders, the Buffalo Jills, until that squad was disbanded due to legal disputes.

Van Miller was the voice of the Buffalo Bills from the team's inception until 2003, with the exception of 1972 to 1978, when WKBW controlled radio rights and Miller's TV employer, WBEN-TV (now WIVB), would not permit him to appear on WKBW broadcasts. Miller was succeeded by Murphy, his longtime color commentator, when he retired from the booth after the 2003 season.

Stations

Map of radio affiliates.
CityCall signFrequency
Buffalo, New York (Flagship station)WGR550 AM
Buffalo, New York (home games only)WWKB1520 AM
Rochester, New YorkWCMF-FM96.5 FM
WROC950 AM
Ithaca, New YorkWYXL98.7 FM
Alfred/Hornell/Wellsville, New YorkWZKZ101.9 FM (translator on FM 96.3)
Amsterdam, New YorkWKAJ1120 AM
Bath, New YorkWABH1380 AM
Glens Falls, New YorkWMML1230 AM & 97.9 FM
Bradford, PennsylvaniaWBRR100.1 FM
Dunkirk, New YorkWDOE1410 AM (translator on FM 94.9)
Elmira, New YorkWELM1410 AM
Jamestown, New YorkWWSE93.3 FM
WJTN1240 AM
Newark, New YorkWACK1420 AM
Olean, New YorkWPIG95.7 FM
Syracuse, New YorkWKRL100.9 FM/106.5 FM
Utica-Rome, New YorkWKLL94.9 FM
Dansville, Livingston County, New YorkWDNY-FM93.9 FM
Corry, PennsylvaniaWWCB1370 AM
Ogdensburg, New YorkWQTK92.7 FM
Watertown, New YorkWOTT94.1 FM
Toronto, OntarioCJCL590 AM
Hamilton, OntarioCHML900 AM

The WGR and network broadcast incorporates a broadcast delay; the WWKB broadcast is live, and is intended for listeners inside New Era Field. If the Bills ever reach the Super Bowl, the Bills' home-team broadcast would air on WWKB. Since WWKB is a clear channel signal, it would allow the Bills' broadcast to be heard across the East Coast.

Announcers

Play-by-play

Color analysts

Sideline reporters

  • Jeff Burris (2006)
  • Paul Peck (2005, 2007–2008)
  • Rich Gaenzler (2009–11)
  • Joe Buscaglia (2012–2014)
  • Sal Capaccio (2014–present)

Studio hosts

  • Rich Gaenzler (2004–2008)
  • Brent Axe (2009–2011)
  • Howard Simon (2004, 2012–present)
  • Sal Capaccio (2012–present)

References

  1. Connors, Greg (January 3, 2012). "WGR lands Bills games; will add player and management shows". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  2. 97 Rock, The Edge will no longer carry Bills games. WGRZ (2012). Retrieved September 2012.
  3. “Cumulus Seeks To Cancel WLUP/WKQX LMA Purchase; And Chicago PBP Deals” from Radio Insight (January 19, 2018)
  4. Major, Andy (January 4, 2012). "Bills announce new broadcast agreement with Entercom". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  5. "Buffalo Bills Moving to TK99 and WOUR". CNYRadio.com. June 21, 2012. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  6. https://www.wivb.com/sports/buffalo-bills/eric-wood-joins-bills-radio-broadcast-booth/2016287411
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