13 WREX’s parent company to produce local weather in Atlanta; meteorologists face layoffs

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The parent company of 13 WREX plans to begin producing local weather news for multiple markets from the Atlanta headquarters of The Weather Channel, leading to the layoff of meteorologists in markets across the country.

Allen Media Group announced the new initiative on Saturday, billing it as a means to provide additional visual storytelling capabilities and deliver superior weather content to local television markets. The initiative will begin later this year.

“Severe weather coverage remains a top priority, and the new format will dramatically improve reporting capabilities, especially in high-stakes weather situations,” the company said in a news released distributed through EIN Presswire. “This initiative aims to transform the way local weather is reported — ensuring the most accurate, timely, and engaging forecasts for communities across the country.”

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The company hasn’t provided details on how the change will affect meteorologists at local TV stations including Alex Kirchner, Claudia Olech and John Jurgens at 13 WREX. However, Allen Media Group’s announcement was followed by posts from several meteorologists across the country saying they would be laid off.

“For now I am still at the station but I am looking for my next career opportunity,” Amber Kulick of WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, wrote on Facebook.

Some, such as Patrece Dayton and Kevin Orpurt with WTHI-TV in Indiana, told viewers on air Friday that their positions were eliminated, CNN reported.

Allen Media Group operates 27 television stations in 21 markets across the country. Its new initiative will be led by Meteorologist Carl Parker, a 20-year veteran of The Weather Channel, and include some meteorologists from Allen Media’s markets across the country who will transition to the team in Atlanta, the company said.

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“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,” Tom O’Brien, president of Weather Group/The Weather Channel, said in the news release. “We are 100% committed to delivering next-level weather news to our local television stations 24/7.”

Allen Media, which took ownership of The Weather Channel seven years ago, said the decision was made after several years of development and BETA testing, including a launch on the CBS Network.