The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum » Buffalo Bills Radio Rights Go To WGRF. But What About Southern Ont.?

RadioActive · May 15, 2026 12:10 pm

WGR-AM will no longer be footing the Bills. After a major turnaround, the new station for Buffalo's NFL team play-by-play coverage is WGRF, aka 97 Rock. It marks a reunion of sorts, since 97 had the rights from 1998 to 2011.

The station does not come in well in the GTA anymore, so outside of online tuning, many here who might be listening on the radio while driving could lose access. Or will they? Here's an interesting twist:

"In addition to 97 Rock, the team said WSKO The Score 1260 will serve as the Syracuse affiliate, and additional stations joining the network, including Rochester and Southern Ontario, will be announced soon."

Who do you suppose those Southern Ontario affiliates will be?

Buffalo Bills announce 97 Rock as the team's new official flagship radio station

km93 · May 15, 2026 12:19 pm

Probably either CKTB or More FM

RadioActive · May 15, 2026 12:31 pm

CKTB was my first thought, too. But WGRF comes in fine in St Catharines. It is a different country, so there's that. But does it make sense to have an affiliate so close by?

It can't be the Fan - too many Sunday conflicts with the Jays. What about TSN1050, since CTV already has NFL rights? The Bills have a huge following here - a Toronto affiliate would seem like a no-brainer.

RadioAaron · May 15, 2026 12:36 pm

CKOC?

RadioAaron · May 15, 2026 12:36 pm

CHUM?

Radiowiz · May 15, 2026 2:36 pm

RadioAaron wrote:
CHUM?

CHUM AM, being TSN 1050 would be a smart place to carry the Bills in Toronto, but what other sports could conflict?

Radiowiz · May 15, 2026 2:39 pm

RadioAaron wrote:
CKOC?

In all seriousness, depending on the rights that be, or true cost to cover the game,
it would be interesting to hear the game in Punjabi on sister station BIG 820...

Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 · May 15, 2026 4:24 pm

I was thinking ither CKTB or TSN 1050.
But maybe, CKOC could get the rights.
They nead actual programming.
Its not like the days of rockin ray michael's.

I Used Carts · May 15, 2026 4:29 pm

Radiowiz wrote:
RadioAaron wrote:
CHUM?
CHUM AM, being TSN 1050 would be a smart place to carry the Bills in Toronto, but what other sports could conflict?

Leafs ? I would assume they could schedule around the Bills games that are 4pm & 8pm starts.
World Juniors (does TSN radio still carry it) ??

Probably nothing that can’t be figured out though.

RadioAaron · May 15, 2026 5:16 pm

I Used Carts wrote:
Radiowiz wrote:
RadioAaron wrote:
CHUM?
CHUM AM, being TSN 1050 would be a smart place to carry the Bills in Toronto, but what other sports could conflict?

Leafs ? I would assume they could schedule around the Bills games that are 4pm & 8pm starts.
World Juniors (does TSN radio still carry it) ??

Probably nothing that can’t be figured out though.

They could use 1010 too. Nobody’s listening outside of drive-times anyway.

torontostan · May 15, 2026 5:31 pm

Rumours are saying that 590 is taking exclusivity of the Leafs radio rights next season since Rogers owns them, so 1050 is hoping to nab the Bills

RadioActive · May 15, 2026 5:35 pm

Adding to the intrigue, in an encrypted report, Inside Radio says Cumululs, which owns WGRF, is now said to be contemplating changing one of its Buffalo FMs to all sports to compete with Audacy's WGR. Would it be WGRF, which make the most sense, or one of their other properties, which are:

-WBBF 98.9
-WEDG 103.3
-WHTT 104.1

If this report is true, I find it impossible to believe they would not put the sports on the station that has the Bills rights. Which would mean the sign-off of 97 Rock, which has used that format since 1975. That would be the end of a classic rock station that has been around for more than 50 years.

RadioActive · May 15, 2026 6:13 pm

The changes aren't over yet. The Sabres are also leaving WGR after this season, which could end Saturday night. It's still unknown where they will end up.

RadioAaron · May 15, 2026 6:27 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Adding to the intrigue, in an encrypted report, Inside Radio says Cumululs, which owns WGRF, is now said to be contemplating changing one of its Buffalo FMs to all sports to compete with Audacy's WGR. Would it be WGRF, which make the most sense, or one of their other properties, which are:

-WBBF 98.9
-WEDG 103.3
-WHTT 104.1

If this report is true, I find it impossible to believe they would not put the sports on the station that has the Bills rights. Which would mean the sign-off of 97 Rock, which has used that format since 1975. That would be the end of a classic rock station that has been around for more than 50 years.

It’s 98.9 for sure.

Radiowiz · May 15, 2026 6:49 pm

RadioAaron wrote:
It’s 98.9 for sure.

What if they want to maximize their signal strength for Sports radio?
They could easily shut down Vibe, move Edge to 98.9 and put sports on 103.3.

RadioAaron · May 15, 2026 8:33 pm

Radiowiz wrote:
RadioAaron wrote:
It’s 98.9 for sure.

What if they want to maximize their signal strength for Sports radio?
They could easily shut down Vibe, move Edge to 98.9 and put sports on 103.3.

There’s no room for a second full-signal sports station. And if there were, the Bills would be in it rather than on 97Rock.

A Bills-focused sports station on 98.9 would have been part of Cumulus’ negotiation. For them; it if shaves some points off WGR; in turn helping GRF/Edge’s male rankings, all the better. Win/win.