According to reports, Allen Media Group, which owns nearly 20 television stations across the country, broadcast the tearful goodbyes from local meteorologists, replacing them with a Weather Channel feed.
The Byron Allen-owned media company plans to lay off or reassign at least 50 employees across all of its local stations, including FOX, NBC, ABC and CBS affiliates stretching from California and Hawaii to Alabama and Arizona. According to a report from CNN.
“Kevin and I have been coming to everyone's homes for decades, but for me it's been almost 37 years,” Terre Haute, Ind., newscaster Patrice Dayton said Friday, holding a box of tissues nearby. I said it while watching.
“And for me it's over 40,” added Kevin Opert, the bureau's chief meteorologist.
“For those of you who don’t know, both of our positions here at WHI-TV have been eliminated,” Dayton continued. “The television business in general is changing across the country, with budget cuts happening everywhere.”
Allen Media is building a new Atlanta-based team to lead “cutting-edge” reporting at the Weather Channel, which the company acquired for $300 million in 2018. According to a press release.
The new team will include some of the affected meteorologists and will be led by storm expert and 20-year Weather Channel veteran Carl Parker, Allen Media said.
This is the latest cost-cutting move following layoffs at Allen Media and The Weather Channel last year.
The company did not respond to requests for comment.
The Atlanta “hub” will feature the latest weather technology, improved forecasting capabilities, more graphics and 24/7 news coverage, according to a press release.
Some affected employees began taking to social media to share the news.
“Most of you have seen the story about Allen Media laying off local meteorologists. Well, I'm one of those affected by this,” said Amber, a meteorologist at WAAY in Huntsville, Alabama. Kulick says: I wrote in a Facebook post. “For now, I'm still at the station, but I'm looking for my next career opportunity.”
Christina Burkhart, a meteorologist who will retire from Flint, Michigan-based WJRT at the end of 2024, said in a Facebook post that the layoffs will affect 100 meteorologists, twice as many as CNN reported. Ta.
Allen Media did not say how many employees would be affected.
“Weather forecasts will come from the Atlanta Weather Channel,” Burkhardt said. “These will be recorded in advance by regional meteorologists who will record hits for each Allen station. Live coverage of severe weather will also be provided by them.”
Just last year, Allen Media announced a series of layoffs of undisclosed employees, citing “strategic changes.”
The Weather Channel also cut its workforce in October and shut down its Spanish-language edition as part of a “widespread cost-cutting initiative.”
Meanwhile, Allen, the group's founder and CEO, has made several unsuccessful bids for major media companies over the past few years.
Last year, he offered $30 billion to buy Paramount Global.
It reportedly offered Disney $10 billion for ABC and some of its cable networks in 2023.
He was also reportedly considering making an offer to EW Scripps.
Meteorologists at rival observatories slammed the cuts and the switch to a single weather report.
Spencer Denton, a meteorologist at rival WVLT in Knoxville, Tenn., said the change “may save money in the short term,” but it also “takes away value and reliability in the long term.” he said in a Facebook post.
“The number one reason most people watch local news shows is weather,” Denton said. “These people are more valuable than some companies realize and we are confident they will bounce back.”
a 2019 Pew Survey We found that weather was the most important news topic for viewers.
