WGR Radio

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

WGR was the first commercial radio station in Western New York. It was preceded by amateur radio operator Charles Klinck's short-lived 1920 station, in addition to sporadic experimental stations in the 1910s. Effective December 1, 1921, the Department of Commerce adopted regulations formally defining 'broadcasting stations'. The Buffalo Daily Courier and Enquirer were issued a temporary authorization for 360 meters, with the call sign WPU, for a concert on January 22, 1922. Federal Telephone & Telegraph Co. applied for its own broadcasting license, which was issued on March 14, 1922, with the randomly assigned call letters WGR, transmitting on both 360 and 485 meters. The March 28 issue of the Buffalo Evening News reported hearing test transmissions made by WGR the previous night. On April 1 it was announced that, starting that day, WGR would broadcast weather reports on 485 meters each weekday at 12:30 and 6:00 pm. In mid-April, WGR's regular broadcast schedule was reported to be musical programs on 360 meters on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, plus daily weather and market reports on 485 meters. WGR suspended regular operations while constructing a more powerful transmitter. In May they were reported to be conducting test transmissions, initially as experimental station 8XAD. The debut for the upgraded transmitter was scheduled for May 21. In early 1923 WGR ended the government reports on 485 meters. In May 1923 additional 'Class B' frequencies were made available, with 940 kHz reserved for 'Zone 1', which was assigned to WGR later that year. Effective November 11, 1928, the Federal Radio Commission implemented its General Order 40, and WGR was moved to a regional frequency, 550 kHz. The August 1941 adoption of the FCC's 'duopoly' rule restricted licensees from owning more than one radio station in a given market, and the Buffalo Broadcasting Company decided to divest WGR, while retaining WKBW. In late 1946, WGR was bought by a consortium of Western New York families known as the WGR Corporation. This company signed on WGR-TV (channel 2) in 1953 and WGR-FM (now WGRF) in 1959. WGR Corporation bought several other television and radio stations in the 1950s, and eventually became known as Transcontinent Broadcasting. Transcontinent merged with Taft Broadcasting in 1964. Taft sold off WGR-TV in 1983. Due to a current FCC rule that prohibit

In Their Own Story

Jeremy White hosts the morning-drive show with Joe DiBiase, followed by The Extra Point Show. Mid-days carry Sabres Live with Brian Duff and Martin Biron, produced by the Buffalo Sabres. Mike Schopp hosts the afternoon-drive home with Chris Parker (Bull Dog) followed by 'The Night Cap.' WGR targets a key demographic of men 25 to 54 years old. It had the highest Nielsen ratings of any station in the Buffalo market among that demographic as of autumn 2018.

Reader's Guide

WGR has a sports radio format. The station targets a key demographic of men 25 to 54 years old. It had the highest Nielsen ratings of any station in the Buffalo market among that demographic as of autumn 2018. Jeremy White hosts the morning-drive show with Joe DiBiase, followed by The Extra Point Show. Mid-days carry Sabres Live with Brian Duff and Martin Biron, produced by the Buffalo Sabres. Mike Schopp hosts the afternoon-drive home with Chris Parker (Bull Dog) followed by 'The Night Cap.' WGR formerly served as the flagship outlet for: the Sabres Hockey Network, with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray calling games on-site; and the professional box lacrosse Buffalo Bandits, with John Gurtler and Randy Mearns calling games on-site. MSG Western New York also uses this feed as the announcers for the game.

Did You Know?

• WGR was the first commercial radio station in Western New York.
• The station's call letters were randomly assigned on March 14, 1922.
• WGR's transmitter site in Hamburg is shared with co-owned WWKB.
• The station's programming is also heard on FM via WGR-FM, extending to Batavia and Rochester.