The station signed on in 1948 as WYFC, broadcasting at 95.1 MHz. It was a charter member of the Rural Radio Network. Early on, it was obtained by Cornell University. Cornell changed the call letters to WHCU-FM to match those of the AMstation it already owned. The station was known as WHCU-FM as early as March 1951. . At some point in its early history, the station moved to its current frequency. Cornell built new studios for the stations in downtown Ithaca in 1957. Cornell University sold WYXL and WHCU to Eagle Communications in 1985. Six years later, the stations moved into a new complex on Hanshaw Road, northeast of Ithaca in the town of Dryden. WYXL is also one of the first stations in the nation to rebroadcast its HD subchannels on its analog translators. Its HD-2 channel is a syndicated CHR service known as Hits 103.3, using the W277BS translator. Hits 103.3 signed on in September 2008, shortly after the debut of WFIZ "Z-95.5" FM. The 103.3 translator prior to HD service at WYXL had been an FM simulcast of WNYY. Its HD-3 channel launched in September 2009 as "98.7 The Vine", a blend of AAA with lesser known independent artists and some local bands. It formerly broadcast on the W254BF translator, which was acquired from Clear Channel in 2009. The translator, formerly on 98.3 FM at much lower power, was used to rebroadcast WPHR-FM while it was located in Auburn. On February 17, 2014 WYXL-HD3 and W254BF changed their format to sports, branded as "98.7 The Buzzer", with programming from CBS Sports Radio. On March 24, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Saga announced that WYXL-HD3 and the translator, which had since moved to 96.3 W242AB, would temporarily suspend regular sports programming between 8AM and 5PM Mondays through Fridays to carry information for patients being tested for the virus at the mobile testing facility at The Shops at Ithaca Mall. Sports programming, which had since shifted to Fox Sports Radio, will continue during downtime hours and weekends. WYXL previously had a translator on 95.5 FM that simulcasted WHCU, but the translator was shut off prior to the sign on of WFIZ.
