Cumulus Media appears poised to flip one of its Buffalo radio stations to a sports format, coinciding with the Buffalo Bills naming its 96.9 WGRF “97 Rock” as the new flagship for game broadcasts starting in the 2026 season.
The move would give Cumulus a dedicated sports talk presence in the market as it regains Bills radio rights after a 14-year absence. The team’s games previously aired on Audacy’s WGR 550 AM.Key
Cumulus owns several signals in Buffalo, including:
- 96.9 WGRF (97 Rock) — Classic rock, now the primary flagship for Bills preseason, regular season, and postseason games.
- 103.3 WEDG (The Edge) — Current rock format, a leading candidate for the potential sports flip.
- Other stations such as classic hits WHTT and CHR WBBF.
The Bills announced the partnership with Cumulus on Fridat. The team will produce and manage all broadcasts, including pregame and postgame shows, with play-by-play voice Chris Brown, analyst Eric Wood, and sideline reporter Steve Tasker. Syracuse’s 1260 The Score (WSKO) will serve as an initial affiliate, with additional stations in Rochester and Southern Ontario expected soon.
This marks a return to Cumulus for the Bills, whose games aired on 97 Rock from 1998 to 2011 before shifting to WGR.
TNo official confirmation or exact launch date for the sports flip has been released, but the strategic alignment with high-profile Bills coverage positions Cumulus to challenge the market’s established sports radio options more directly.