Sandy Beach Dies at 86
Buffalo radio legend Sandy Beach has died at the age of 86. Beach spent much of his career in the Buffalo market, including the last 23 years at WBEN-AM, Buffalo. Beach joined WKBW, Buffalo in 1968 when it was a Top 40 station. He worked in a number of markets during his 60-year career, including Hartford, 
Dallas, San Francisco, and Milwaukee. Former Audacy Buffalo general manager Tim Wenger posted his thoughts about Beach’s passing and wrote: “When I was asked about programming WBEN ‘back in the day’ and what I would do first, I quickly said I would go to Milwaukee and bring Sandy Beach back to Buffalo and talk radio, where he belongs. I got the job, I got Sandy, and I never looked back. Sandy quickly became an institution on WBEN and a co-worker so many cherished and loved off the microphone and respected for his unrivaled wit, intelligence, logic and even sometimes caustic sense of humor on the air. The most-asked question I get when I encounter WBEN listeners is, hands-down, ‘How is Sandy Beach?’ Susan and I had the privilege of continuing our close friendship with Sandy and I can assure you that his humor, personality and wit was with him until his brief illness took hold.”
Buffalo Broadcasters Association reports that the company offered Wenger a different position within the company but he’s electing to pursue new opportunities. Wenger has spent much of his career in Buffalo, beginning in the newsroom at WBEN-AM in 1986. He rose through the programming ranks and eventually into management in his current market manager role. Wenger’s wife, Susan Rose, serves with WBEN-AM as morning news anchor and reporter and she will remain in her position. 
Rochester sports. Audacy SVP and market manager Tim Wenger says, “This hybrid approach lets us bring the full strength and recognition of WGR’s established sports lineup to Rochester while still delivering a strong local voice tailored specifically to Rochester fans. We know how deeply connected Rochester listeners are to Buffalo-area teams, and this expansion allows us to serve that passion while preserving meaningful, local sports talk and engagement. With the launch of WGR Rochester, our reach now more fully covers the Rochester market and further cements WGR as Western New York’s sports giant and voice of the fans.”
Township southeast of Buffalo) and adds FM translator W284AP, Buffalo at 104.7 to the simulcast. Senior VP and Buffalo-Rochester market manager Tim Wenger comments, “WGR has been the heartbeat of Buffalo sports, and now that beat is louder than ever. We know our fans are second-to-none, and simulcasting on FM allows us to expand our footprint to the furthest corners of Western New York, allowing more fans to join the live, local and high-energy conversations that define our region all year round.”
announcer last season, will continue as Bills Insider for the station, co-hosting “One Bills LIVE,” weekdays at 1:00 pm and simulcast on MSG Western New York. Audacy Buffalo SVP and market manager Tim Wenger says, “Chris is best suited to carry on the long tradition of informative, passionate and entertaining Bills play-by-play announcing. His decades-long knowledge of the organization will be invaluable as he assumes the play-by-play microphone.”
director at WIVB-TV, Buffalo and served as a weekend anchor at WBEN-AM in 2002 and at sister WGR-AM in 1999. Audacy Buffalo SVP and market manager Tim Wenger states, “Lisa’s extraordinary background in leading award-winning content generation in local television news will be invaluable for WBEN as it continues to evolve as the radio station that’s always there when the community needs it the most. I look forward to Lisa taking an already stellar brand to new heights.”