When a national corporation must announce bad news to its customers, it typically does so in a news release on a weekend, particularly on the weekend of a holiday or other distracting event, such as MLK weekend or presidential inaugural weekend.
That’s what happened the weekend of January 17-19. Allen Media Group (AMG) issued a news release stating that it was cutting out local weather staff at the TV stations it owns.
It was not news to a number of affected citizens. The controversial cutback had already been discovered and posted on social media by affected employees in local markets and by 1819 News.
The cutbacks affect Alabama viewers of WAAY-TV in Huntsville and northwest Alabama viewers of WTVA-TV in Tupelo.
AMG put a positive spin on the cutbacks in its announcement:
The Allen Media Group (AMG) broadcast television station division, Allen Media Broadcasting (AMB), is rolling out a groundbreaking format for local weather coverage powered by The Weather Channel across local markets nationwide. This innovative partnership based at The Weather Channel’s Atlanta headquarters brings together world-class meteorological expertise, cutting-edge technology, and the most advanced forecasting tools to deliver superior weather content to local television station audiences. This new weather initiative, which will have additional visual storytelling capabilities, is set to roll out across AMB’s local television markets in 2025.
After several years of development and successful BETA testing, including a strategic launch on CBS network, AMB is now expanding this initiative powered by The Weather Channel to its local television market stations. This new initiative will be bolstered by The Weather Channel's 43 years of weather news excellence, state-of-the-art technology, and deep resources. Severe weather coverage remains a top priority, and the new format will dramatically improve reporting capabilities, especially 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.
“We are proud to announce that Allen Media Group is leveraging the full resources and expertise of The Weather Channel to make our local weather news the very best,” said Tom O’Brien, President of Weather Group/The Weather Channel. “We are one hundred percent committed to delivering next-level weather news to our local television stations 24/7.”
The offering will feature a newly assembled team leveraging cutting-edge forecasting tools, proprietary immersive mixed reality, and award-winning visual storytelling. The team will be led by Meteorologist Carl Parker – a storm and climate specialist and 20-year veteran of The Weather Channel – and will also include some of the AMB local market meteorologists who will transition to Atlanta to be part of the next-level local weather initiative.
By utilizing The Weather Channel’s advanced technology, local stations will provide quicker, more efficient updates while enhancing the viewer experience. This initiative will improve both content delivery and operational efficiency, ensuring timely and reliable weather news for communities nationwide 24/7.
Reacting to the announcement, meteorologist Max Tsaparis of Chicago, an AP award-winner and FSU graduate posted:
Disheartened by the news that Byron Allen's Media Group will be laying off nearly ALL meteorologists from their local stations (100+ colleagues in 22 markets), opting to RECORD content for newscasts from their Weather Channel hub.
In an effort to save money, this move will ultimately cost lives. These meteorologists have worked tirelessly through the decades to build trust with their communities that proves to be critical during severe weather.
Additionally, weather coverage has shown to be the #1 reason people watch local news, counterintuitive to these mass layoffs.
The AMG corporate release left many questions unanswered:
How will Atlanta staff cover a tornado or severe weather event moving through a local area?
How will Atlanta staff know about local places in order to explain to viewers what is happening and where?
How many jobs will be lost in each market?
Will other corporate owners of multiple TV stations follow suit, further restricting options for citizens to obtain needed local severe weather information? Other corporate owners owning Alabama TV stations include Sinclair Broadcasting and Grey Media.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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