New York’s new station at 101.9, which dropped the Rock format on Friday when it was fully taken over by Merlin Media, is preparing for a changeover to News.

Last week, we told you that several WINS anchors and reporters made the move to Merlin.

Now, FishbowlNY has learned that WCBS-FM fill-in jock Dave Packer has been hired. This fuels speculation that Merlin, behind COO Walter Sabo, would appear to be developing a similar format to one he created at WKXW/New Jersey 101.5.

At WKXW, Sabo was instrumental in programming a News/Talk station Monday through Friday, and an Oldies station on the weekends.

For now, 101.9 has kept the old WRXP call letters and a mix of 1980s pop/rock. But there are no jocks, just a female-voiced jingle announcing “101.9 FM New…” instead of saying ”News.”