Alabama TV meteorologists face layoffs as Allen Media moves to local Weather Channel coverage

Allen Media Broadcasting, which operates 27 television stations in 21 US markets, has announced plans to begin using “local weather coverage powered by The Weather Channel across local markets nationwide.”

Will that mean layoffs for the meteorologists at those stations, including two in Huntsville and Montgomery?

In any case a media report says the move will lead to nearly 100 layoffs on local news stations around the country.

See also: Spann says Allen Media move signals future of ‘Ron Burgundy newscast’

“Currently I’m still at the station, but I’m looking for my next career opportunity,” Amber Kulick of WAAY in Huntsville wrote on Facebook.

“I know my management team has done everything they can to make this better, but this is at a corporate level, so please don’t talk bad about this post. I will land on my feet, I always do,” added Kulick, who said she hopes to continue working in the Huntsville area.

Allen Media, which also operates WCOV in Montgomery, said it plans to roll out the “innovative partnership based at The Weather Channel’s headquarters in Atlanta” sometime this year.

“Severe weather coverage remains a top priority and the new format will dramatically improve reporting capabilities, particularly in high-stakes weather situations. This initiative aims to transform the way local weather is reported – ensuring the most accurate, timely and engaging forecasts for communities across the country,” said a news release from Allen Media Broadcasting.

ABC 33/40’s James Spann weighed in on the news, which did not directly affect him since his station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group.

“I hate that so many colleagues are involved in this, but at the same time I am excited about our future. All businesses change, and ours is no exception. I have had this horse for 47 years and it has been a great ride. But media consumption is radically different now, and we need to change how our products and services reach you,” Spann wrote on Facebook.

“Yes, there will be short-term pain, but there will be long-term gain,” Spann added.

The news has given rise to some concern that the stations are losing the ability to get critical weather information out to local audiences.

“Local meteorologists on TV are a trusted face, not only because they know their science, but also because they’re a member of that community,” Zach Stanford, a former state emergency information coordinator and disaster intelligence for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, told NPR. “The community component needs to be thought through to ensure the critical service is not lost.”

ONE the change.org petition with more than 31,000 signatures was started in Tupelo, Miss. to stop layoffs at WTVA.

“Removing our local meteorological teams means losing the trust and confidence built over the years and replacing them with outsourced teams who may not fully understand the unique weather patterns in our locality. In times of severe weather, immediate and accurate information is not a luxury – it is a necessity,” the petition states.