WHCU

WHCU
Ithaca, New York; United States;
Broadcast area	Central New York
Frequency	870 kHz
Branding	News-Talk 97.7 & 870
Programming
Format	News/talk
Affiliations	CBS News Radio; Compass Media Networks; Premiere Networks; Westwood One; Cornell Big Red Sports;
Ownership
Owner	Saga Communications; (Saga Communications of New England, LLC);
Sister stations	WFIZ, WIII, WNYY, WQNY, WYXL
History
First air date	May 27, 1922
Former call signs	8YC, 8XT, 8XU, WU6 (1915–1922); WEAI (1922–1932); WESG (1932–1940);
Call sign meaning	"Home of Cornell University" (original owner)
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	18048
Class	B
Power	5,000 watts (day); 1,000 watts (night);
Transmitter coordinates	42°27′54″N 76°22′23″W / 42.46500°N 76.37306°W (day); 42°21′47″N 76°36′22″W / 42.36306°N 76.60611°W (night);
Translator(s)	97.7 W249DW (Ithaca)
Repeater(s)	95.5 WFIZ-HD3 (Odessa)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live
Website	whcuradio.com

WHCU (870 AM) is a commercial radio station in Ithaca, New York, that programs a news/talk [radio format. It's one of the oldest stations in Central New York, originally a service of Cornell University. It's been owned by Saga Communications, operating as part of its Cayuga Radio Group, since 2005. Its studios and offices are on Hanshaw Road in Ithaca.

By day, WHCU is powered at 5,000 watts non-directional. At night, to protect other stations on 870 AM, a clear channel frequency, WHCU reduces power to 1,000 watts using a directional antenna. The station's daytime transmitter is off Mount Pleasant Road in Etna, while its nighttime three-tower array is off Protts Hill Road in Newfield Hamlet. Programming is simulcast on 175-watt FM translator W249DW at 97.7 MHz.