Local TV meteorologist tears up air after layoffs

Meteorologists at more than two dozen stations across the United States have said goodbye because of a new initiative involving The Weather Channel.

Many local forecasters said goodbye to viewers last week as parent company Allen Media Group announced their plan to begin rolling out a “groundbreaking format for local weather coverage powered by The Weather Channel.”

In a news release, the media group said The Weather Channel will now produce content for the affected stations at the network’s Atlanta base, according to National Public Radio (NPR).

About 100 meteorologists will lose their jobs as a result, according to Spencer Dentona meteorologist at CBS affiliate WVLT in Knoxville, Tenn. – which is not part of the Allen Media Group – as well Christina Burkhart with ABC affiliate WJRT in South Michigan whose station was affected.

Two other meteorologists who said goodbye were Patrece Dayton and Kevin Orpurt from CBS affiliate WTHI-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana, who brought a box of tissues with them when they signed up for one last time.

“Many of you may already know this, but tonight is our last broadcast here at News 10. Kevin and I have been coming into your homes for decades,” Dayton said. “”For those of you who don’t know, both of our positions are being eliminated here at WTHI-TV. The television news business in general is changing nationwide, and budget cuts are happening everywhere.”

“We both had hoped to go out on our own terms to celebrate, but that’s not the case,” Orput added.

Orpurt continued, “As you can see on the evening news every night, we’re a close family here at News 10. We laugh, sometimes we argue like an old married couple, and we’ve cried together. We’ve been through so much.”

As she began to tear up, Dayton added, “For the last time, good night and sleep well.”

Amber Kulick was also among the meteorologists who said goodbye to viewers on Friday. In a post about her Facebook pagesaid the former forecaster for ABC affiliate WAAY-TV that she “never imagined that I would end up working in Huntsville just to have my time cut off.”

“I know my management team has done everything they can to make this better,” she explained in the post, “but this is at the corporate level, so please don’t talk bad about this post. I will land on my feet, as I always do.”

She later added, “To my friends and family here in North Alabama, I love you and I am so grateful for your support on this journey .”

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Meanwhile Josh Franson announced that his job at NBC affiliate KWWL was affected by the change in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Thank you to my viewers and those of you who have been on Franny’s Report since day one,” Franson wrote. “You have kept me motivated to grow, taken you to unimaginable places and shown you the most powerful forces of nature.”

The Weather Channel was purchased by Allen Media Group for $300 million in March 2018, according to CNN.

Layoffs at stations owned by Allen Media Group were not announced until 2024, per Deadline.

“I don’t think it’s a good move and I don’t see it succeeding,” Denton, who is employed by Gray Media, said in his Facebook post. “It may save money in the short term, but takes away value and credibility in the long term. I personally know some in this group who were let go. They are wonderful people, employees and meteorologists.”