Local Meteorologist Positions in the Allen Media are now being filled by Weather Channel forecasters.
In a significant shift for local weather reporting, Allen Media Group (AMG) has partnered with The Weather Channel, sparking concerns about the future of hundreds of local meteorologists across the U.S. [1][2][3][4]
The new partnership, which replaced local weather personnel with TWC forecasters based in Atlanta, initially put many jobs at risk. However, following public outcry and backlash, AMG decided to maintain local weather forecasting operations, preserving many positions. [1]
This move comes as AMG continues to sell off local TV stations, with a deal to sell 10 stations to Gray Media expected to close in late 2025. This sale, along with other ownership changes, may indirectly impact local weather personnel as operational restructuring often follows. [1][2][3][5]
Spencer Dayton, a meteorologist with Gray Media-owned CBS station WVLT Knoxville, Tennessee, criticised the new move, expressing concerns about the potential loss of value and credibility in the long term. [1]
Under the new arrangement, weather forecasts for stations such as ABC12 will be sent from the Weather Channel in Atlanta. Regional meteorologists will record pre-recorded hits for each Allen station. [1]
The impact of this partnership has been felt across the country, with at least 50 meteorologists expected to be affected. Notable departures include Patrece Dayton and Kevin Orpur from WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana. [1]
However, it's worth noting that Gray Media, Dayton's employer, is not planning to implement similar changes. [1]
This situation highlights the challenge of balancing operational efficiencies through outsourcing while addressing community needs for local, trusted weather reporting. [1][4]
AMG, a part of Allen Media Group (AMG), owned by Byron Allen, acquired The Weather Channel in a deal worth $300 million in 2018. [1]
The partnership follows AMG's restructuring plan that impacted about 12% of its workforce, or approximately 2,500 employees, last May. [1]
As the dust settles, local meteorologists and their communities wait to see how this partnership will evolve and what it means for the future of local weather reporting.
[1] Source: Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, TVNewsCheck, and The Hollywood Reporter.
- The partnership between AMG and The Weather Channel, a shift in local weather reporting, involves sending weather forecast content via video broadcast through IP technology, directly affecting local meteorologists and their employment.
- Despite the adoption of advanced technology in television broadcasting, such as outsourcing weather forecasts to The Weather Channel's central hub, concerns about the long-term value and credibility of local weather reporting remain, as exemplified by meteorologist Spencer Dayton.
- In the evolving media landscape, Allen Media Group, following its restructuring, has continued to explore partnerships, like the one with The Weather Channel, which promise operational efficiencies but emphasize the need for balance in addressing the demands of both community needs and technological progress.
