| January 1, 1947 |
WHLD-FM signs on - changed to WZIR in 1980, WRXY in 1984 and WKSE in 1985. |
| January 1, 1959 |
WBFO-FM, owned by the University of Buffalo, signs on. |
| January 1, 1973 |
WGR-FM goes on the air with the top 40 "Super Q" format as WGRQ. |
| January 3, 1986 |
After change in ownership, WKBW call letters are rearranged to form WWKB. |
| January 5, 1985 |
97 Rock goes off the air at 10 a.m. and replaced by "Lite" WGR-FM (WRLT). Entire staff is fired. |
| January 6, 1969 |
WYSL-FM adds a progressive format from 7 p.m. - 5 a.m. with Jim Santella 9 p.m. -1 a.m. and George Hamberger 1 a.m. - 5 a.m. |
| January 8, 1966 |
 Fred Klestine appointed Chief Announcer of WBNY |
| January 9, 1956 |
WBUF-TV, Channel 17, signs on as an NBC owned and operated station. WBUF is NBC’s first UHF station. |
| January 10, 1970 |
One year after its switch to a progressive rock format, WYSL-FM changes its call letters to WPHD. |
| January 14, 1952 |
Jack Ogilvie joins WBEN-AM. |
| January 16, 1960 |
WBEN-AM/FM/TV moves into former NBC studios at 2077 Elmwood Ave. |
| January 17, 1950 |
"Meet the Millers" begins a 20 year run on WBEN-TV. |
| January 19, 1946 |
First broadcast of "Hi-Teen" with host Bob Wells on WEBR. |
| January 23, 1930 |
The Buffalo Evening News is granted radio station WRDA. The station never went on the air. The News eventually took control of WMAK (WBEN). |
| January 25, 1926 |
Seneca Vocational High School station WJBP changes call letters to WSVS. |
| January 26, 1948 |
WKSN-AM, Jamestown, signs on. |
| January 29, 1973 |
Alan Constantini joins WBEN-TV. |
|
| February 1, 1965 |
WHUG-FM, Jamestown, signs on. |
| February 1, 1949 |
WHDL-FM (WPIG-FM) Olean, signs on. |
| February 2, 1949 |
Hall of Fame Inductee Chuck Healy joins WBEN-TV. |
| February 6, 1941 |
WBTA-AM, Batavia, signs on. |
| February 9, 1964 |
The Beatles TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show seen locally on WBEN-TV. |
| February 10, 1934 |
Ralph Hubbell conducts his first sports interview with wrestler Sam Cordovano. |
| February 10, 1975 |
WGRQ dumped its Top 40 format and became Q-FM-97. Jim Jim Santella, Skip Edmunds, John Rivers, Hank Bell and John McGhan make up first first air staff. |
| February 15, 1966 |
Courier Cable, WNY’s first community antenna television outlet, begins service. Courier Cable is owned by The Courier-Express. |
| February 16, 1963 |
WDCX-FM, signs on. |
| February 19, 1957 |
George "Hound Dog" Lorenz hosts the "Biggest Show of Stars" at Memorial Auditorium. Headliners include Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Clyde McPhatter. |
| February 22, 1947 |
WBEN’s first public demonstration of television at the Masten Street Armory. |
| February 23, 1926 |
The Federal Radio Commission is created by Congress. |
| February 27, 1973 |
Jackson Armstrong’s last show on WKBW-AM. |
| February 29, 1948 |
BBP Hall of Fame member Ralph Hubbell becomes sports director of WBEN-AM. |
|
| March 1, 1943 |
After a 12 year stint at WGR, Clint Buehlman joins WBEN-AM. He would remain as WBEN’s morning man until 1977. |
| March 2, 1963 |
Ultravision Broadcasting Co, headed by Stan Jasinski files FCC application for UHF channel 29 (WUTV). |
| March 3, 1948 |
WEBR-AM switches to 970 on the dial. Transmitter is moved to Cloverbank Road, Hamburg. |
| March 10, 1966 |
Jeff Kaye’s first show on WKBW. |
| March 11, 1928 |
WKBW changes dial position from 1380 to 1470 AM. |
| March 13, 1954 |
First Network Color TV test on WBEN-TV (Now WIVB). |
| March 15, 1897 |
G. Marconi makes demonstrated communication over a distance of 4 miles. |
| March 18, 1934 |
W8XH, WBEN’s ultra short wave station becomes first 5 meter station to broadcast a regular schedule. Transmitter is now part of the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. |
| March 19, 1981 |
WGRQ’s Snortin Norton begins "Radiothon" to break Guiness World Record of total consecutive hours on the air. |
| March 21, 1955 |
Van Miller begins at WBEN-AM. |
| March 25, 1922 |
Buffalo’s first radio station, WWT, is granted a license to broadcast. |
| March 29, 1941 |
WKBW moves up the dial to 1520 AM. |
| March 30, 1959 |
WNED-TV, Channel 17, begins Public Broadcasting in Western New York. |
|
| April 1, 1967 |
WKBW jocks travel to Hartford, Conn. Switch positions with WPOP during April Fools joke. |
| April 1, 1957 |
Elvis and George "Hound Dog" Lorenz rock Memorial Auditorium. |
| April 4, 1997 |
Smooth Jazz WSJZ-FM becomes ALICE at 92.9 (WLCE-FM). |
| April 7, 1954 |
Construction permit granted to Niagara Frontier Amusement Corporation to build Channel 2. Name would change to the WGR Corporation. |
| April 7, 1927 |
The first practical demonstration of television between Washington and NYC. |
| April 8, 1981 |
After a record breaking 484 hours (20 days, 4 hours), WGRQ’s Larry Norton enters the Guiness Book of World Records for consecutive hours on the air. A record that stands to this day! |
| April 13, 1975 |
WSBU-FM, owned by St. Bonaventure University, signs on. |
| April 15, 1977 |
John Beard joins WBEN-TV. |
| April 19, 1944 |
WEBR-AM becomes affiliated with the Mutual Broadcasting System. |
| April 20, 1986 |
WSPQ-AM, Springville, signs on. |
| April 22, 1967 |
Jim McLaughlin joins WYSL-AM as news director; would join WKBW in 1970. |
| April 29, 1959 |
Buffalo’s first trafficopter takes to the air on WEBR-AM with reporter Jack Sharpe. |
|
| May 1, 1964 |
FCC requires that all new television sets produced receive UHF band. |
| May 1, 1948 |
CBS links New York and Los Angeles with coaxial cable. CBS Television Network is born. |
| May 1, 1983 |
Taft Broadcasting sells WGR-TV to General Cinema Corp. Station call letters are changed to WGRZ. |
| May 6, 1974 |
Jeff Kaye leaves WKBW to become afternoon man on WBEN. |
| May 8, 1948 |
WUSJ-AM (Now WLVL-AM) signs on. |
| May 10 1965 |
Tom Jolls joins WKBW-TV. |
| May 12, 1987 |
Tom Shannon joins WGR-AM as morning man. |
| May 13, 1987 |
Western New York Public Broadcasting signs on second television station WNEQ-TV. |
| May 13, 1948 |
Buffalo’s first scheduled live telecast; Consecration of Rev. Lauriston Scaife as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Buffalo on WBEN-TV. |
| May 14, 1948 |
WBEN-TV (Now WIVB-TV) begins regular program service. Becomes the 25th television station in the United States. |
| May 19, 1940 |
WHLD-AM signs on from studios located in the Hotel Niagara. |
| May 20, 1957 |
WMNS-AM, Olean, signs on. |
| May 22, 1922 |
WGR-AM signs on. |
| May 22, 1951 |
Dick Rifenberg joins WBEN. |
| May 27, 1957 |
CHUM-AM, Toronto, launches Top 40 format. |
| May 28, 1972 |
George "Hound Dog" Lorenz passes away at the age of 52. |
|
| June **, 1968 |
Sandy Beach joins WKBW-AM. |
| June 1, 1956 |
Rick Azar joins WBUF-TV (Channel 17) as weatherman and sports announcer. |
| June 1, 1986 |
WUWU, 107.7 becomes the "The Bear," WBYR-FM. Tony Magoo, J.P. and Tom Tiberi are among the first jocks under new format. |
| June 10, 1971 |
WGR-AM moves to the former offices of the Contemporary School of Broadcasting at 464 Franklin. |
| June 4, 1934 |
The first test broadcast of an FM signal is sent out from the Empire State Building in NYC. |
| June 5, 1998 |
After a 43 year stint at WBEN-AM/TV (WIVB), Van Miller retires from the sports anchor desk. |
| June 6, 1960 |
WEBR-FM (WNED-FM) signs on. |
| June 6, 1986 |
The CHUM, Toronto, "CHUM Chart" discontinued. Was the longest running hit record chart in North America. Ran for 1, 512 consecutive weeks. |
| June 18, 1957 |
WGGO-AM, Salamanca, signs on. |
| June 18, 1988 |
"KB Becomes a Thing of the Past" Part 2. WWKB-AM switches to satellite oldies format ending nearly 30 years of rock ‘n roll. |
| June 20, 1988 |
Dan Neaverth joins WHTT-FM. |
| June 26, 1930 |
WMAK changes call letters to WBEN. |
| June 29, 1977 |
Buffalo Evening News sells WBEN-TV for $25.5 million. |
| July 1, 1958 |
"Night Patrol" with Jack Sharpe debuts on WEBR-AM. |
| July 3, 1955 |
Guy King (Tom Clay) conducts famous "Billboard" stunt in Shelton Square on WWOL-AM. |
| July 4, 1958 |
WKBW-AM makes switch to Top 40 format. |
| July 4, 1980 |
WHLD-FM (WKSE-FM) is transformed into album rock format WZIR, Wizard 98+. Gary Storm and Jim Nowicki are among the first on air. |
| July 11, 1934 |
Federal Communications Commission opens for business. |
| July 11, 1994 |
WUBJ-FM, Jamestown, begins simulcast of WBFO, Buffalo, owned by the University of Buffalo. |
| July 15, 1936 |
WEBR-AM is sold to the Buffalo Evening News. Begins affiliation with the NBC Blue Network. New tower is built on top of the Larkin Company. |
| July 20, 1969 |
Landing of Apollo 11 on moon, Walter Cronkite exclaims "Man on Moon... Man finally standing on the surface of the moon... My Golly!" |
| July 23, 1942 |
WEBR-AM is sold to the Buffalo Courier-Express. |
| July 26, 1971 |
After seven long months, NABET ends strike against WGR-AM-FM-TV. |
| July 26, 1952 |
After a freeze on television applications, The Courier-Express reapplies for VHF channel 7. |
| July 28, 1953 |
Niagara Frontier Amusement Corporation files application for channel 2. NFAC investors would include prominent WNY businessmen George Goodyear, Seymour Knox and Paul Schoelkoph. |
| July 29, 1977 |
Clint Buelhman’s Last Show on WBEN-AM. |
| July 30, 1998 |
"Buffalo" Bob Smith passes way at age 80. |
|
|
| August 1, 1998 |
WEDG morning personalities, Shread and Reagan brave the waves of Lake Erie and ride a Seadoo watercraft to Cleveland. |
| August 14, 1958 |
WKBW Program Director Dick Lawrence hires Irv Weinstein. |
| August 14, 1954 |
WGR-TV (Now WGRZ-TV) signs on. |
| August 16, 1956 |
WNIA (changed to WECK in 1980) signs on. |
| August 17, 1953 |
WBUF-TV (Channel 17) signs on. |
| August 24, 1981 |
Bob Koop joins Carol Jasen behind the WIVB-TV news desk for the first time. |
| August 25, 1997 |
Former WKBW disc jockey Sandy Beach returns to local airwaves on WBEN-AM. |
| August 28, 1922 |
Account Executives celebrate! WEAF, New York becomes first station in the United States to sell air time. Calls it "toll broadcasting." |
|
| September 2, 1987 |
WNYB-TV (changed to WNYO in 1996), Channel 49, signs on. |
| September 6, 1941 |
WBEN dedicates it’s new transmitting facility on Grand Island. |
| September 7, 1964 |
"Dialing for Dollars" Premieres at 9 a.m. on WKBW-TV. |
| September 8, 1930 |
WBEN-AM Officially signs on. |
| September 9, 1927 |
NBC Network is formed by parent RCA. |
| September 10, 1962 |
"Rocketship 7" makes debut at 7 a.m. on WKBW-TV. |
| September 11, 1928 |
WMAK in conjunction with WGY, Schenectady, debuts television in Buffalo. WNY Broadcasting Hall of Fame member Ike Lounsberry make arrangements for historic broadcast. |
| September 12, 1955 |
George "Hound Dog" Lorenz joins WKBW-AM. |
| September 12, 1948 |
WBEN-TV first live broadcast from Niagara Falls. |
| September 14, 1959 |
WGR-FM signs on (now WGRF-FM). |
| September 15, 1922 |
License to broadcast granted to WMAK (now WBEN). |
| September 18, 1927 |
William S. Paley forms the CBS Radio Network. |
| September 20, 1988 |
"Back & Rockin". After a 3 1/2 year hiatus, Rich Communications brings back "97 Rock". |
| September 21, 1955 |
NBC purchases WBUF-TV, Channel 17. |
| September 23, 1989 |
WPHD lets go more team "Taylor & Moore" and becomes WUFX, "The Fox". |
| September 25, 1973 |
"KB Becomes a Thing of the Past" Part 1. Marked the end of personality-driven WKBW, replaced by the more music-oriented "KB 15, The Great American Music Machine." |
| September 29, 1953 |
WBES-TV (Channel 56) signs on. |
| September 30, 1958 |
WBUF-TV (Channel 17) goes dark. Owner NBC cites lack of public interest in UHF for station’s demise. |
|
|
| October 1, 1926 |
Dr. Clinton Churchill applies for a radio station license with the call letters WAY-AM. Calls were already assigned to a ship. Churchill is randomly assigned WKBW. |
| October 2, 1922 |
WWT, Buffalo’s first radio station, discontinues broadcasting. |
| October 3, 1954 |
WWOL-FM signs on. (Now WHTT-FM) |
| October 4, 1947 |
WWSE (WJTN-FM), Jamestown signs on. Call letters stand for "Wonderful World of Stereo Entertainment." |
| October 6, 1997 |
Former WKBW disc jockey Tommy Shannon returns to local airwaves on WHTT-FM. |
| October 9, 1978 |
WKBW moves from 1430 Main Street to 695 Delaware Ave. |
| October 11, 1956 |
NBC’s Today Show host Dave Garroway broadcasts live from the new NBC/WBUF-TV studios at 2077 Elmwood Ave (current home of WIVB). |
| October 14, 1924 |
WEBR-AM (Now WNED-AM) signs on. First studios located in the back of the Howell Electric Company at Niagara & Franklin Streets. |
| October 15, 1988 |
WQRT-FM, Salamanca, signs on. |
| October 15, 1951 |
"I Love Lucy" Premieres on WBEN-TV. |
| October 20, 1926 |
Inaugural broadcast on WKBW-AM. First station to use a commercially built transmitter. |
| October 22, 1940 |
Stan "Stas" Jasinski, age 25, broadcasts his first Polish radio program in Buffalo. |
| October 23, 1996 |
WNYO-TV (WNYB) Ch. 49 signs on. as Warner Brothers (WB) affiliate. |
| October 25, 1950 |
WKBW moves studios from the 13th floor of the Rand Bldg. to a new "Radio Center" at 1430 Main Street. |
| October 31, 1938 |
Mercury Theater of the Air broadcasts Orson Welles’ "War of the Worlds". |
| October 31, 1968 |
Broadcast of the WKBW-AM version of the "War of the Worlds". |
|
|
| November 1, 1977 |
WBEN-TV officially changes to WIVB after change in ownership. |
| November 1, 1978 |
WMXO-FM, Olean, signs on. |
| November 1, 1970 |
Local country music pioneer "Ramblin" Lou Schriver purchases WMMJ-AM from Stan Jasinski. Call letters changed to WXRL. |
| November 2, 1970 |
News Anchor Chuck Lampkin joins WBEN-TV. |
| November 2, 1920 |
Radio’s Official Birthday. KDKA - Pittsburgh,PA Broadcasts Presidential Election Results. |
| November 3, 1930 |
First regular broadcast of the weekly Fr. Justin Rosary Hour, now the oldest Polish language radio program in America. |
| November 8, 1998 |
Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets: The first football game to be broadcast in high-definition television (HDTV). |
| November 9, 1925 |
Seneca Vocational High School signs on (WJBP-AM). |
| November 9, 1977 |
WBTF-FM, Batavia signs on. |
| November 11, 1946 |
WBEN-FM (Now WMJQ-FM) signs on. |
| November 11, 1966 |
WBNY-FM (Now WJYE-FM) signs on. |
| November 14, 1962 |
WADV-FM (Now WYRK-FM) signs on. |
| November 14, 1990 |
WKRP’s Les Nesman visits the 97 Rock "Turkey Drop" at the Thruway Mall." |
| November 15, 1986 |
WWKB hosts Weekend Reunion. |
| November 16, 1993 |
Western New York Public Broadcasting dedicates new facilities at Horizons Plaza. |
| November 26, 1970 |
NABET strike at WGR-AM-FM-TV begins on Thanksgiving Day. |
| November 26 1961 |
"Pic-a-Polka" premiers on WGR -TV with host Joe Macielag at 5 p.m. |
| November 28, 1974 |
Kevin O’Connell joins WBEN-TV. |
| November 29, 1957 |
Lou Douglas begins 30 year tenure at WBEN-AM. |
| November 30, 1958 |
WKBW-TV signs on. |
|
|
| December 3, 1956 |
The first use of magnetic tape for television broadcast. "Douglas Edwards with the News" taped for the west coast. |
| December 3, 1979 |
Carol Crissey, later Jasen, joins WIVB-TV. |
| December 6, 1954 |
WBEN-TV’s Santa Claus Show is the first telecast of a "live" color program. |
| December 7, 1996 |
WNGS-TV, Channel 67, signs on. |
| December 11, 1934 |
WHDL-AM, Olean, signs on., License and call letters were originally assigned to Lake Placid (Feb. 1929). |
| December 12, 1964 |
George "Hound Dog" Lorenz signs on WBLK-FM. The call letters "BLK" stand for "Ben L. Kulick," a major financial backer of the station and local Admiral distributor. |
| December 18, 1947 |
The Courier-Express files FCC application for VHF channel 7. |
| December 19, 1953 |
WBES-TV folds due to lack of income. |
| December 20, 1965 |
"The Commander Tom Show" debuts on WKBW-TV. |
| December 21, 1947 |
WJJL-AM, Niagara Falls signs on. |
| December 21, 1970 |
WUTV, Channel 29, Signs-On with Stan Jasinski at the helm. |
| December 24, 1949 |
WDOE-AM, Dunkirk, signs on. |
| December 27, 1947 |
The Howdy Show with "Buffalo" Bob Smith debuts on NBC. |
| December 30, 1955 |
NBC takes control of WBUF, Channel 17. |
| December 31, 1924 |
WJTN-AM, Jamestown, signs on. |
