Allen Media lays off local TV weather staff

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Allen Media preparing to ‘hub’ weather, cut local forecaster jobs: Sources

Update: Allen Media Group has confirmed its hub plans. Multiple sources have indicated to NewscastStudio ... Read More

www.newscaststudio.com

Allen Media to lay off nearly all local TV weather forecasters

Allen Media Group is laying off most of its local TV weather forecasters and will centralize regional weather reporting from its Atlanta studios of The Weather Channel.

thedesk.net

This is part of a move to hub weather segments from the Weather Channel office. Some of the staff who did weather segments on the local level in some cases may be moved to the Weather Channel office in Atlanta.

Allen Media Group is laying off nearly all of its local television meteorologists and will produce regionalized weather reports for its local TV stations from Atlanta, The Desk has learned.

The process began several weeks ago when local TV weather forecasters in some small markets received notices that their positions were being eliminated, according to eight sources who agreed to speak with this publication on background A few weather forecasters were offered opportunities to relocate to Atlanta, where Allen Media operates The Weather Channel, which will produce regionalized weather reports for all of its local TV stations, the sources said. Allen Media owns or operates around three dozen local TV outlets, including stations in Honolulu, Hawaii; Chico, California; Madison, Wisconsin; Montgomery, Alabama; Tucson, Arizona and Lafayette, Louisiana.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

Honestly, this makes a lot of sense from an accounting perspective. Over the course of an 8 hour shift, the evening meteorologist is on the air for 30 or 40 minutes.

I guess we'll see how this works for the audience. The old folks who have been watching the same guy for 20 years may choose to go exploring -- or they may not.

 

[Hyrum]

Or the will they hit the app on their phone and not need to sift through three minutes of nonsense for the few facts that they need? Much like radio, TV needs to offer something other than the same old stuff, when the same old stuff is available without the intrusive commercial load elsewhere.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Or the will they hit the app on their phone and not need to sift through three minutes of nonsense for the few facts that they need? Much like radio, TV needs to offer something other than the same old stuff, when the same old stuff is available without the intrusive commercial load elsewhere.

You mean the app on your phone that shows you an icon of a cloud while the TV meteorologist describes the wind chill, frontal boundaries, jetstream, a broad overview of weather patterns and granular neighborhood details? Got it.

 

[tvnut]

This will come back to haunt Allen when tornado warnings are covered in 30 seconds rather than continuous coverage that saves lives.

 

[Hyrum]

You mean the app on your phone that shows you an icon of a cloud while the TV meteorologist describes the wind chill, frontal boundaries, jetstream, a broad overview of weather patterns and granular neighborhood details? Got it.

Don't you get that same info from AccuWeather?

 

[Hyrum]

This will come back to haunt Allen when tornado warnings are covered in 30 seconds rather than continuous coverage that saves lives.

When continuous coverage is necessary the regular anchors will do a fine job with it. TV and radio are hemorrhaging money and cuts HAVE TO BE MADE. Where would you suggest cuts be made of not the on staff meteorologist?

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

This will come back to haunt Allen when tornado warnings are covered in 30 seconds rather than continuous coverage that saves lives.

Every single time I’ve been in a tornado warning for like the last decade plus, it’s been an alert on my phone that gave me the first heads up.

 

[radiofan2023]

Don't you get that same info from AccuWeather?

No, it doesn’t explain weather patterns as part of the forecast.

 

[Hyrum]

No, it doesn’t explain weather patterns as part of the forecast.

Would 99 percent of the weather audience be satisfied with knowing if it will rain or be sunny, high and low temperatures, if there will be wind, and what to expect for the next three days? Isn't that what they will still get on TV if the anchor reads that information over a graphic or weather map? Will those that want more in depth information not get it elsewhere? TV has always been a headline service with very little in depth reporting. They spend more time on pictures of firefighters climbing ladders than they do on investigating who started the fire. I think a week after the meteorologist is gone, people will adjust. But we shall see.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Would 99 percent of the weather audience be satisfied with knowing if it will rain or be sunny, high and low temperatures, if there will be wind, and what to expect for the next three days?

Speak for yourself. Lots of people appreciate more in-depth reporting than weather apps provide. Some TV stations build their whole brand identity around their weather team. "The Market Name's Weather Station."

 

[crainbebo]

This will come back to haunt Allen when tornado warnings are covered in 30 seconds rather than continuous coverage that saves lives.

Especially at WTVA where Matt Laubham was like the James Spann of Mississippi. One of the most trusted meteorologists in the south, and especially during tornado warnings. His prayer on the air for Amory, MS during their tornado emergency in March 2023 went viral for all the right reasons.
I hope their competitor, WCBI, swoops him quickly.

 

[radiofan2023]

Mark Schnackenberg has been at KWWL for 30 years this month. Hopefully he lands on his feet.

 

[Megatron]

This will be a flop that is cheap skate Byron Allen always doing stuff on a shoestring budget and had no reason to buy TV stations. Byron should sell a few of his mansions and his fancy cars as well to invest into his TV stations. I hope those that got let go file a class action lawsuit so Byron has to go to a real court and not one of his fake court shows.

 

[Loverofradio]

Would 99 percent of the weather audience be satisfied with knowing if it will rain or be sunny, high and low temperatures, if there will be wind, and what to expect for the next three days? Isn't that what they will still get on TV if the anchor reads that information over a graphic or weather map? Will those that want more in depth information not get it elsewhere? TV has always been a headline service with very little in depth reporting. They spend more time on pictures of firefighters climbing ladders than they do on investigating who started the fire. I think a week after the meteorologist is gone, people will adjust. But we shall see.

How’s Scripps doing after going anchorless shows?

 

[radiofan2023]

This will be a flop that is cheap skate Byron Allen always doing stuff on a shoestring budget and had no reason to buy TV stations. Byron should sell a few of his mansions and his fancy cars as well to invest into his TV stations. I hope those that got let go file a class action lawsuit so Byron has to go to a real court and not one of his fake court shows.

I have no idea about his mansions or cars, but he’s got the trial for the $10 billion racial discrimination lawsuit he filed against McDonald’s coming up at some point.

 

[Weiserguy]

I have no idea about his mansions or cars, but he’s got the trial for the $10 billion racial discrimination lawsuit he filed against McDonald’s coming up at some point.

I have a few predictions regarding this: (a) McDonalds will move for summary dismissal, with prejudice, and the judge will agree. The case will be dismissed and Allen won't ever be able to file it again. (b) McDonalds will never drop so much as a dime advertising on any of Allen's TV stations or other media holdings, ever again. Allen will be so much the worse for that lawsuit. (c) Allen's next visit to court will be in a bankruptcy filing.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

L Some TV stations build their whole brand identity around their weather team. "The Market Name's Weather Station."

No question some do. And they still will. But plenty of viewers are content to check their phones or ask Siri/Alexa/Google what the weather is and are perfectly fine knowing the temperature and conditions. Both types of consumer exist.

 

[nickp]

Allen Media Firing Matt Laubhan at WTVA in Tupelo is just the worst decision ever

 

[kwthom]

All of the Tucson stations have long-tenured meteorologists; Matt Brode on KVOA has been there since 2013...

KVOA losing local TV weathercasters as chain owner cuts stations across U.S.

Broadcast TV chain Allen Media — which owns Tucson's Channel 4 KVOA — is cutting the ranks of local weathercasters across the country to consolidate operations at the company's Weather Channel hub in Atlanta.

www.tucsonsentinel.com