Audacy is extending the footprint of its Buffalo sports powerhouse into a neighboring market, announcing that WGR Sports Radio will expand into Rochester through WROC-FM. A move designed to unify Western New York’s sports conversation under one dominant audio brand while preserving a localized presence for listeners in Monroe County and surrounding communities.
Beginning at 11 p.m. ET on February 22, WROC-FM will rebrand as WGR Rochester, carrying a substantial portion of the WGR Sports Radio lineup that has long served as a hub for Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres coverage, while maintaining its existing call letters and layering in Rochester-specific programming to ensure the station reflects the distinct identity of its new audience.
The announcement comes on the heels of Audacy’s recently revealed FM simulcast expansion of WGR Sports Radio in Buffalo, underscoring a broader strategy to amplify the brand’s accessibility and relevance at a time when regional sports loyalty remains strong across media platforms and distribution channels.
Audacy executives framed the Rochester expansion as a hybrid model that merges brand recognition with local authenticity, an approach that aims to capitalize on the established credibility of WGR Sports Radio while giving Rochester listeners a daily destination that speaks directly to their teams, storylines and community touchpoints.
Under the new structure, mornings in Rochester will begin with The Jeremy and Joe Show, followed by The Northtown Automotive Extra Point Show hosted by Sal Cappaccio, before transitioning into an hour dedicated to Sabres coverage that keeps hockey central in a market deeply invested in the franchise’s trajectory.
At 1 p.m., Gene Battaglia will anchor The Sports Bar, a Rochester-focused program designed to spotlight local athletics and issues unique to the city, creating a bridge between Buffalo-centric coverage and the stories unfolding closer to home. Schopp and Bulldog will then carry listeners through the afternoon drive, delivering the opinion-driven analysis that has defined the WGR brand for years.
Tim Wenger, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for Audacy Buffalo and Rochester, said the company sees clear alignment between Buffalo’s professional sports presence and Rochester’s fan base.
“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,” said Wenger. “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.”
By extending WGR’s programming into Rochester while keeping WROC’s call letters intact, Audacy positions the station as both a regional connector and a hometown outlet, a balancing act that reflects broader trends in sports radio where scale and specificity must coexist to drive engagement and loyalty.
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will we still have anerks.hockey on game nights