Channel 2 Sports Director Ed Kilgore, the dean of local sportscasters, is reducing his role at the NBC affiliate as early as Monday and turning over the 11 p.m. weeknight duties to long-time backup Adam Benigni, according to multiple sources.
In a move speculated upon by stilltalkintv in a June 3rd blog, the 64-year-old Kilgore (seen far right) will be following the model established by former Channel 4 sports director Van Miller before he retired and Dennis Williams took over as the main sports anchor at the CBS affiliate.

Miller initially reduced his role to 6 p.m. before he retired and Williams eventually replaced him on both newscasts. Williams was eventually replaced by John Murphy, who moved over from Channel 7 and will soon be the dean of full-time local sportscasters.
Like Miller, Kilgore will continue to anchor sports on the 6 p.m. weeknight broadcasts. He also will remain as sports director for at least this year. It is unclear if Kilgore or Channel 2 management made the decision to limit the sportscaster’s role but my guess is that management decided it was time for Benigni to get a promotion as Kilgore neared retirement age.

Kilgore could not be reached this morning for comment. Reached late this morning, Benigni confirmed that he would take over at 11 p.m. and added he believes it was Kilgore’s decision.

“I think it was his decision based on our conversation weeks ago,” said Benigni. “He said ‘it was something I want to do.’”

Channel 2 apparently is ready to do some on-air promotioms for Benigni (left above, next to Kilgore), the energetic anchor who became the station’s weekend sports anchor in 1997 and has been waiting patiently for a weekday anchor job.
Kilgore’s role is being reduced a year after he became a member of the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame. It is an honor he won for his longevity, arriving at Channel 2 in 1973 after working for a couple of stations in Texas.
Known as one of the University of Missouri’s top fans here after graduating from journalism school there in 1969, Kilgore actually was born and raised in Oregon.
He is more known for getting close to sports personalities than for getting any scoops or expressing any strong opinions. Kilgore was the host of weekly sports shows featuring former Bills coaches Lou Saban and Chuck Knox and former quarterback Jim Kelly. He also was the host of Buffalo Sabres games decades ago when Channel 2 carried a schedule of the National Hockey League team’s games.
A native of Massachusetts, Benigni, 42, is a Syracuse University graduate who has a much more energetic and opinionated style than Kilgore and was a good soldier as he awaited Kilgore’s move to a more limited schedule.
The move is a good one for Kilgore, for Benigni, for Channel 2 and for viewers.
* Speaking of sports, the Buffalo News finally got around Wednesday to answering my question on whether Williamsville South quarterback Joe Licata is in the mix as a candidate to play at QB this season for the Bulls. The long overdue article noted that Licata has had an excellent summer and apparently has a chance for some playing time, a rarity for freshman college quarterbacks.
* Got my first look at Channel 7’s HD newscasts upon my return from vacation. The picture looks very sharp and may even get me to watch Keith Radford and Joanna Pasceri more often.
* Brian Meyer told his Facebook friends Wednesday night that he will remain a reporter at the Buffalo News for one or two days a week after taking the latest buyout. Donn Esmonde and Dan Herbeck are also expected to return as part-timers.

pergament@msn.com

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