Update 3/7: Saga has completed its Ithaca restructuring with the relaunch of “Classic Hits 107.7” W299BI Ithaca/WFIZ-HD2 Odessa as “Rewind 107.7“. Positioned as “Amazing Variety Of The 60s, 70s, and 80s”, the station has retained its format under the new name.

With the rebranding of 107.7, Saga has completed its shuffling of its large cluster following the acquisition of WFIZ and three additional translators.

The fully restructured cluster includes:

• CHR “Z95.5” WFIZ Odessa/94.9 W235BR Ithaca
• AAA “96.7 The Vine” WYXL-HD2/W244CZ Ithaca
• AC “Lite Rock 97.3” WYXL Ithaca/96.3 W242AB Ithaca
• Sports “98.7 The Buzzer” WYXL-HD3/W254BF Ithaca
• Classic Rock “I100” 99.9 WIII Cortland/100.3 W262AD Ithaca
• Country “Q Country 103.7” WQNY Ithaca/103.3 W277BS Ithaca
• Classic Hits “Rewind 107.7” WFIZ-HD2 Odessa/107.7 W299BI Ithaca
• News/Talk 870 WHCU Ithaca/103.7 WQNY-HD2/95.9 W240CB Ithaca
• Liberal Talk 1470 WNYY Ithaca/97.7 W249CD Ithaca

Update 2/17: Saga began its restructuring of its Ithaca cluster today.

CHR “Hits 103.3” W277BS/WYXL-HD3 is no more as it began simulcasting recently acquired “Z95.5” WFIZ.

Meanwhile 98.7 W254BF Ithaca and WYXL-HD3 have flipped to Sports as “98.7 The Buzzer“. Utilizing the CBS Sports Radio feed around the clock, the station will also carry Cornell University basketball and Buffalo Bills football.

The Cayuga Radio Group launched a new sports formatted radio station in Ithaca today. 98.7 “The Buzzer” hit the airwaves with the CBS Sports Radio line up.

The station features the CBS Sports Radio line up – including the popular Jim Rome Show. “This is an excellent of expansion of sports radio into the Ithaca Market,” Said VP/GM Chet Osadchey. “CBS gives us the ability to bring the highest quality sports programming to local radio, with nationally known personalities such as Tiki Barber, Jim Rome, Doug Gottlieb, and many other athletes and personalities that contribute regular segments over the airwaves. Osadchey said that sports radio continues to grow in listenership around the country and expects Ithaca will be no different.

“We are particularly excited about The Jim Rome Show. For several years, we have received numerous requests to carry this show, and now we are able to fulfil that goal. Jim’s show is the most interactive, contemporary, and authentic in the sports radio arena. He is at the top of his game, and listeners cannot get enough of it.”

The Buzzer will also take over broadcasting Cornell Basketball games (previously on 103.3 FM) and also will carry the NFL Buffalo Bills games. “We have additional plans for local, regional, and national programming, but will add them over an extended period of time.

98.7 The Buzzer weekday Line up:
6a-9a: Tiki Barber, Brandon Tierney, and Dana Jacobson
9a-12n: John Feinstein
12n-3p: Jim Rome
3p-6p: Doug Gottlieb
6p-10p: Chris Moore and Brian Jones
10p-2a: Scott Ferrall
2a-6a: Damon Amendolara

Original Report 2/2: Saga Communication’s Cayuga Radio Group has closed on its purchase of 95.5 WFIZ Odessa/Ithaca and three translators from ROI Broadcasting.

The closing of the acquisition will lead to changes throughout the cluster. The programming of Saga’s existing CHR “Hits 103.3” W277BS/WYXL-HD3 will be merged into “Z95.5” WFIZ. WFIZ PD/Morning Host Gabe Carillo, Morning Co-Host/Middayer Harper, and night host Bentley will all remain with the station. After a brief simulcast period, Saga will launch a new format on the 103.3 translator.

96.3 W242AB Ithaca has shifted from rebroadcasting ROI’s Classic Rock “99.3 The Wall” WLLW to Saga AC “Lite Rock 97.3” WYXL.

Saga has also registered a pair of domains for other changes in the Ithaca market. Rewind1077.com will bring the branding Saga uses for its Classic Hits stations around the country to “Classic Hits 107.7” W299BI Ithaca/WFIZ-HD2. 987TheBuzzer.com seems to point to a Sports format for 98.7 W254BF Ithaca, which shifted its prior format to 96.7 W254BF in August.