Adam Benigni dropping role as WGRZ daily sports anchor, remains on 'Sports Talk Live' (2024)

WGRZ-TV (Channel 2) sports director Adam Benigni is significantly reducing his role at the NBC affiliate by dropping that title and his weekday sports anchor duties.

Benigni, who joined Channel 2 in 1997 and now is the dean of Buffalo sportscasters, will continue as the host of the weekly program he produces and co-created, “Sports Talk Live,” and have some other duties.

Channel 2 News Director Jeremy Settle announced Benigni was relinquishing his role as sports director in an email to the staff Friday.

The email noted that Benigni “shared his desire” with General Manager Mark Manders and Settle last spring “to step away from the day-to-day responsibilities of serving as sports director.

“We all agreed that the timing wasn’t ideal at that moment in time with the football season fast approaching,” Settle added. “With the 2023 season behind us, we have decided that now would be a good time to start looking toward the future. Effective later this month Adam will be stepping aside as sports director, while still being part of the 2 On Your Side team.

“Adam will continue to host ‘Sports Talk Live’ and contribute to big story coverage as needed. In the meantime, we will begin the search for his successor to lead our sports team.”

In a telephone interview, Benigni said he signed a six-month contract extension in August to finish the Buffalo Bills season. He immediately is ending his weekday anchor duties. However, he added there is flexibility for him to be involved on big story days, such as the NHL trade deadlines and the NFL draft, and to anchor occasional shows.

“This was not about money,” Benigni said. “That was never a contested issue in the contract.”

Benigni, 54, added that his semi-retirement from Channel 2 gives him “the time and flexibility” to explore other opportunities.

The Syracuse University graduate has personal and professional reasons for stepping back.

“Personally, this gives me more time to spend with family and in the community,” Benigni said.

“Professionally, I think media, in general, is changing rapidly, faster than I think many expected. And I think, within, that all of us individually, when our contract comes up, have to make decisions that are in their own best interest and what we think are right for us.”

The station has added a job posting for sports director on its website.

The job requirements on the posting include developing sources, writing and posting daily on digital platforms and social media, “a positive attitude” and “a strong natural on-camera presentation.”

Those are all qualities that Benigni has performed well. He also asks tough questions of sports figures that need to be asked, a quality that is increasingly rare in TV sports journalism.

In addition, the job posting notes that more than 10 years of experience is preferred and a candidate has “a portfolio with examples of sports anchoring, breaking sports reporting, and heartfelt sports stories.”

Channel 2’s sports staff doesn’t have anyone on its roster with that longevity. Its two sports anchor-reporters on staff working with Benigni are Lindsey Moppert and Jonathan Acosta.

Moppert joined the station in December 2022, about six months after graduating from Temple University. Acosta joined in August 2023 after two years at a Fayetteville, Ark., station.

As noted on Channel 2’s website, Benigni joined the station in July 1997 on the day the Buffalo Sabres held the news conference to announce the hiring of Lindy Ruff as coach.

He began at Channel 2 as the weekend sports anchor. He took over the 11 p.m. sports shift from Ed Kilgore in 2011, and replaced Kilgore in 2013 as sports director when Kilgore left to work for a company owned by Terry Pegula.

Benigni also spent some time as a news anchor at Channel 2, most notably when Scott Levin briefly left the station to work for West Herr Auto Group.

Benigni is married to Lorrie Turner, the chief legal officer of the New Era Cap Co.