ITHACA — ESPN Radio 1160 (WPIE) will soon be expanding to the FM band. According to FCC documents filed last week, WPIE owner Taughannock Media has agreed to pay $50,000 to take over the construction permit for an as-yet-unbuilt FM translator. The seller is the same religious outfit that has recently sold two other FM translator construction permits to another commercial cluster in the area.
ITHACA/CORTLAND — The Cayuga Radio Group is adding another FM translator to its stable of frequencies. From the “better late than never” file, the group is buying the construction permit for 96.7FM (W244CZ) from Cavalry Chapel of the Finger Lakes, the same group from which Saga purchased 99.7FM (W249CD), which now simulcasts 1470 WNYY, last month.
ITHACA/CORTLAND — When football season begins in a few months, fans of the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills will be able to find the games on the same spots on their radio dials as last year. The Cayuga Radio Group says it has renewed its deals to broadcast both teams for the upcoming season.
ITHACA — ESPN Radio 1160 (WPIE) has an opening for an operations manager and program director. The position also includes some on-air responsibilities, including some play-by-play of local sports, and hosting the station’s hour-long “Between the Lines” show every weekday afternoon. We’ve got the full job description from GM Todd Mallinson:
CORTLAND — The fiery breath of “90.5 The Dragon” (WSUC-FM) will soon cover more territory beyond the SUNY Cortland campus. The station — which also serves as a part-time repeater of Oswego-based NPR news/talk affiliate WRVO — is well on its way to gaining final FCC approval for an increase in transmission power.
ITHACA/CORTLAND — There’s a new way to listen to progressive talk radio in the Ithaca area. The Cayuga Radio Group announced Progressive Talk 1470 WNYY is now being simulcast at 97.7FM. Group head Chet Osadchey says the new signal “adds greater coverage into downtown Ithaca, and on both the Cornell and Ithaca College campuses.”
ALBANY — Sad news for fans this week, learning of the passing of Annette Funicello. The singer, dancer and actress who grew up in Utica lost a long battle with multiple sclerosis on Monday, at the age of 70. This week, an Ithaca radio personality remembers one special evening decades ago, when the former Mousketeer was his “date” during an Albany radio station event.
SYRACUSE — A pair of familiar local talk show co-hosts are back together, for the first time in several years, with a new program set to debut this weekend on WRVO Public Media. Lorraine Rapp and Linda Lowen will discuss health and wellness on “Take Care,” every Sunday at 6:30pm.
ITHACA — Q-Country 103.7 (WQNY) is looking for an afternoon drive host. According to the station’s website, Robbie Owens is currently on-air weekdays from 3-7pm, but that apparently isn’t the station’s long term plan, as it has put the call out for applications. Here’s the full job description sent to CNYRadio.com:
ITHACA — On the heels of this week’s release of a book about the history of TV in Syracuse — aptly titled “Syracuse Television” — work is underway for another book about local broadcast history. This time, Ithaca radio will be in the spotlight and the authors are asking for help in the way of photos, memories and other items.