<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950135-06-001865
<TYPE>11-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20051231
<FILING-DATE>20060328
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060328
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC
<CIK>0000886136
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4832
<IRS-NUMBER>383042953
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>11-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-11588
<FILM-NUMBER>06714061
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>73 KERCHEVAL AVE
<CITY>GROSSE POINTE FARMS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48236
<PHONE>3138867070
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>73 KERCHEVAL AVE
<CITY>GROSSE POINTE FARMS
<STATE>MI
<ZIP>48236
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>11-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>b59990sce11vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#tocpage">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>United States<BR>
Securities and Exchange Commission</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 11-K</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>(Mark One)</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#120;</FONT> Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934<BR>
For the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2005
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">or
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934<BR>
For the transition period from &#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;to &#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Commission file number 333-85535
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Saga Communications, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 1pt; width: 100%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Full title of plan)</DIV>



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">Saga Communications, Inc.<BR>
73 Kercheval Avenue<BR>
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan 48236
</DIV>

<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 1pt; width: 100%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Name of Issuer of Securities Held Pursuant to Plan and Address of its Principal Executive Office)
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>





<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#tocpage">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">








<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt">Saga Communications, Inc.<BR>
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt">Financial Statements as of<BR>
December&nbsp;31, 2005 and 2004<BR>
and for the three years in the period ended December&nbsp;31, 2005<BR>
with Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">2
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt">Saga Communications, Inc.<BR>
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt">Financial Statements<BR>
as of December&nbsp;31, 2005 and 2004<BR>
and for the three years in the period ended December&nbsp;31, 2005
</DIV>

<DIV align="left">
<!-- TOC -->
</DIV>
<DIV align="left">
<A name="tocpage"></A>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Table of Contents</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="88%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" colspan="2">Page</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><A href="#101">Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</A></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">4</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Financial Statements:</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px"><A href="#102">Statements of Financial Condition</A></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">5</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px"><A href="#103">Statements of Changes in Plan Equity</A></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">6</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px"><A href="#104">Notes to Financial Statements</A></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">7</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><A href="#105">Exhibit&nbsp;Index</A></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">9</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><A href="#106">Signatures</A></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">10</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Exhibit&nbsp;23 - Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">11</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
<TR><TD colspan="9"><FONT size="2">&nbsp;<A HREF="b59990scexv23w1.htm">EX-23.1 CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP</A></FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left">
<!-- /TOC -->
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">3
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#tocpage">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<DIV align="left">
<A name="101"></A>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Plan Administrator<BR>
Saga Communications, Inc.<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Employee Stock Purchase Plan

</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">We have audited the accompanying statements of financial condition of the Saga Communications, Inc.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December&nbsp;31, 2005 and 2004, and the related statements of
changes in plan equity for each of the three years in the period ended December&nbsp;31, 2005. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan&#146;s management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We
were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan&#146;s internal control over financial reporting. Our
audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing
audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing
an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan&#146;s internal control over financial reporting.
Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial condition of the Plan at December&nbsp;31, 2005 and 2004, and the changes in its
plan equity for each of the three years in the period ended December&nbsp;31, 2005, in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 50%">/s/ Ernst &#038; Young LLP

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Detroit, Michigan<BR>
March&nbsp;24, 2006

</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">4
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#tocpage">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV align="left">
<A name="102"></A>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt">Saga Communications, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan<BR>
Statements of Financial Condition
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="76%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="6" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>December 31,</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>2005</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>2004</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><B>Assets</B></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common stock of Saga Communications, Inc. at fair value
(98,295 shares at a cost of $1,674,220 at December&nbsp;31, 2005
and 86,459 shares at a cost of $1,495,306 at December&nbsp;31,
2004)</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left"><B>$</B></TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>1,068,456</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left"><B>$</B></TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>1,456,827</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="7" align="left" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><B>Plan Equity</B></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Plan equity (191 participants at December&nbsp;31, 2005
and 188 participants at December&nbsp;31, 2004)</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left"><B>$</B></TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>1,068,456</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left"><B>$</B></TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>1,456,827</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="7" align="left" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><I>See accompanying notes.</I>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">5
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#tocpage">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<DIV align="left">
<A name="103"></A>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt">Saga Communications, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan<BR>
Statements of Changes in Plan Equity
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="64%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="10" style="border-bottom: 0px solid #000000"><B>For the years ended December 31,</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>2005</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">2004</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">2003</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><B>Additions:</B></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Participant contributions</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left"><B>$</B></TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>250,077</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">352,923</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">319,080</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Employer contributions</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>44,129</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">62,273</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">56,306</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="11" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>294,206</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">415,196</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">375,386</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><B>Deductions:</B></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Plan distributions</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>(139,087</B></TD>
    <TD nowrap><B>)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">(148,182</TD>
    <TD nowrap>)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">(86,595</TD>
    <TD nowrap>)</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="11" nowrap align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>155,119</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">267,014</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">288,791</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Net unrealized depreciation in fair
value of investments</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>(543,490</B></TD>
    <TD nowrap><B>)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">(127,683</TD>
    <TD nowrap>)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">(28,056</TD>
    <TD nowrap>)</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="11" nowrap align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Net (decrease)&nbsp;increase</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>(388,371</B></TD>
    <TD nowrap><B>)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">139,331</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">260,735</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Plan equity-beginning of period</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>1,456,827</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">1,317,496</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">1,056,761</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="11" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff">
    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Plan equity-end of period</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left"><B>$</B></TD>
    <TD align="right"><B>1,068,456</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">1,456,827</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">1,317,496</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="11" align="left" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><I>See accompanying notes.</I>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">6
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<DIV align="left">
<A name="104"></A>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt">Saga Communications, Inc.<BR>
Employee Stock Purchase Plan<BR>
Notes to Financial Statements<BR>
December&nbsp;31, 2005
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>1. Description of the Plan</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">In 1999, the stockholders of Saga Communications, Inc. (&#147;Company&#148;) approved the Saga
Communications, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (&#147;Plan&#148;) under which 1,562,500 shares of the
Company&#146;s Class&nbsp;A Common Stock could be sold to the Company&#146;s employees. The Plan was effective
July&nbsp;1, 1999, and employees were eligible to begin contributing on October&nbsp;1, 1999.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan if they are employed by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and 1) customarily works a minimum of 20 hours per week and 2) have completed six
consecutive months of service.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Each calendar year quarter, an offering is made to eligible employees to purchase Class&nbsp;A Common
Stock of the Company under the provisions of the Plan. An eligible employee may elect to withhold
1 to 10&nbsp;percent of their compensation (up to a limit of $5,000 per year in 2005 and $25,000 in
2004) to purchase shares of the Company&#146;s stock at a price equal to 85&nbsp;percent of the fair value of
the stock as of the last day of such quarter. The Company contributes the difference between the
cost of shares acquired and the participant purchase price.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Participants are not permitted under the Plan to dispose of any shares purchased under the Plan
within two years after the later of (i)&nbsp;the beginning of the quarter in which a deduction was taken
from the participant&#146;s compensation for the purchase of the shares, or (ii)&nbsp;the expiration of one
year from the date the shares were transferred to the participant.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Participants are immediately 100% vested in the Plan.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Shares are purchased on the last day of each quarter. There were 21,000, 23,546 and 20,131 shares
issued under the Plan during 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. There were 9,164, 8,188 and 4,649
shares disposed of during 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">The Plan will terminate upon the issuance of 1,562,500 shares pursuant to the Plan, unless an
extension of the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company. In any event, the Plan will
not continue beyond December&nbsp;31, 2008. The Company currently has no intention of terminating the
Plan. As of December&nbsp;31, 2005, 124,171 shares have been issued pursuant to the Plan and 1,438,329
shares are available for issuance under the Plan.
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">7
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 18pt">Saga Communications, Inc.<BR>
Employee Stock Purchase Plan<BR>
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>2. Significant Accounting Policies</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>Administrative Expenses</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">The costs of administering the Plan are borne by the Company unless and until a participant
receives written notice of the impositions of administrative costs, with such costs to begin
effective with the next quarterly offering as described in Note 1. Currently, the Company pays all
administrative fees and costs associated with the Plan. Brokerage fees or commissions when Class&nbsp;A
Common Stock is sold are paid by the participants.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>Use of Estimates</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts
reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>Fair Value of Investment</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">The fair value of common stock held in the Plan is based on the quoted market price of the
Company&#146;s Class&nbsp;A Common Stock on the last business day of the plan year.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>3. Income Tax Status</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">The Plan qualifies as an employee stock purchase plan under Section&nbsp;423 of the Internal Revenue
Code (the &#147;Code&#148;) which allows employees to purchase stock at a discount without immediate taxation
on the amount of the discount. The plan is not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 (ERISA).
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">8
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<DIV align="left">
<A name="105"></A>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Exhibit
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">23.1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">9
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<DIV align="left">
<A name="106"></A>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">SIGNATURES
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the administrator of the
Plan has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">SAGA COMMUNICATIONS, INC. <BR>
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">Date: March 24, 2006&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Marcia K. Lobaito
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Marcia K. Lobaito&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">Plan Administrator&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">10
</DIV>

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>b59990scexv23w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-23.1 CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>exv23w1</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Exhibit&nbsp;23.1
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No.&nbsp;333-85535)
pertaining to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan of Saga Communications, Inc. of our report dated
March&nbsp;24, 2006, with respect to the financial statements of the Saga Communications, Inc. Employee
Stock Purchase Plan included in this Annual Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended December&nbsp;31,
2005.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt; margin-left: 50%">/s/ Ernst &#038; Young LLP

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">March&nbsp;24, 2006<BR>
Detroit, Michigan

</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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