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Programming and Graphics / Sweeping Changes Coming: Champion Cancelled, Less Reality Shows
« on: September 09, 2015, 11:25:37 AM »
http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/09/media/weather-channel-sam-champion/index.html
AMHQ's last day is October 30, though Champion "will remain a full-time host with a focus on prime time and new digital ventures" - i.e., we'll find some stuff for him to do while he's still under contract or we agree to a buyout.
Getting ready to sell? Also:
Quote
The Weather Channel is canceling Sam Champion's morning newscast, replacing reality shows with more weather coverage, cutting TV production costs and laying off some staffers in a sweeping adjustment to changes in the cable business.
AMHQ's last day is October 30, though Champion "will remain a full-time host with a focus on prime time and new digital ventures" - i.e., we'll find some stuff for him to do while he's still under contract or we agree to a buyout.
Quote
That means paring back its original programming investments (shows like "Prospectors" and "Fat Guys in the Woods") and lifestyle coverage. The priority is essential, live weather coverage -- particularly during periods of severe weather -- and local information.
"It's going to cost more money to do longer hours of live, so we have to be more efficient about it," he said.
Overall TV spending will be reduced as well. Kenny said "we're now a technology company that owns a TV channel, not a TV company."
Getting ready to sell? Also:
Quote
The company is also prioritizing a localized weather, traffic and news channel it is calling Local Now. It wants to sell the channel to streaming cable-like services like Sling TV.