New Morning Show: "AMHQ with Sam Champion"

[Adrian]

Production Cuts at Sam Champion’s Weather Channel Show
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/production-cuts-at-sam-champions-weather-channel-show_b231894

Four months after launch, the Weather Channel’s signature morning show, “AMHQ with Sam Champion” is feeling some growing pains. A tipster tells us that a dozen freelance production jobs have been cut.

While the show got off to a slow start in March, “AMHQ” has been seeing some bright spots. For the month of June, “AMHQ” topped the 7am-10am hours on MSNBC in the A25-54 demo by +3%. On July 4, “AMHQ” averaged 173,000 total viewers, outranking MSNBC, CNN and HLN.

[alex979]

"'The question isn't will this show be canceled, it's when,' says one insider to FTVLive."

http://ftvlive.com/todays-news/2014/7/13/stormy-days-for-sams-amhq

[gt1racerlHDl]

"'The question isn't will this show be canceled, it's when,' says one insider to FTVLive."

http://ftvlive.com/todays-news/2014/7/13/stormy-days-for-sams-amhq

I give AMHQ the end of the year at this rate...

[toxictwister00]

173,000 viewers isn't a smash hit, but it's not terrible and it's also a major improvement over 3 months ago in April (go back 2 pages) when it was on average 39,000. It's basically quadrupled it's ratings in a 3 month time span. Just trying to put a positive spin on it I guess.

Also aren't morning cable news shows generally exceptionally low in viewership in comparison to broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS)? I know I've read about shows like "Morning Joe" for example have ratings similar to this before.

[TWCJim]

IIRC, AMHQ is going off the air at the end of the summer. 

[mightynine]

173,000 viewers isn't a smash hit, but it's not terrible and it's also a major improvement over 3 months ago in April (go back 2 pages) when it was on average 39,000. It's basically quadrupled it's ratings in a 3 month time span. Just trying to put a positive spin on it I guess.

Also aren't morning cable news shows generally exceptionally low in viewership in comparison to broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS)? I know I've read about shows like "Morning Joe" for example have ratings similar to this before.

Even if it's showing ratings growth, here is the key question: Is it doing better than what was on before, a show that easily cost you less than AMHQ? If the answer is no, then you can forget charging more for spots within the show, and then you're talking about not making the money you thought you would hiring Champion away from GMA.  And that's not good.

[Localonthe8s]

I don't watch AMHQ and don't care for it, so I can't comment on their content but I truly hope they don't cancel the show. It would be an utter failure to see Champion land back to square 1 again. TWC probably spent millions on the show and it would be terrible to see them cancel the show and have those workers lose their jobs after all of this.

[Mike M]

IIRC, AMHQ is going off the air at the end of the summer. 

Source?

[TWCJim]

IIRC, AMHQ is going off the air at the end of the summer. 

Source?

I remember reading about it somewhere but I forgot where. 

[toxictwister00]

I don't watch AMHQ and don't care for it, so I can't comment on their content but I truly hope they don't cancel the show. It would be an utter failure to see Champion land back to square 1 again. TWC probably spent millions on the show and it would be terrible to see them cancel the show and have those workers lose their jobs after all of this.

Even if AMHQ doesn't make it a full year or the remainder of this year on air, I'm pretty certain Sam Champion is not going anywhere anytime soon. As you said, too much money was invested in not only this show, but Sam Champion himself as a brand. Plus if I'm not mistaken, Champion has a producer title as part of his deal for joining the network. I don't know how much creative control he has, but I would imagine they would still want him to stick around off and on air in some capacity since he was (and still is) a well, likable, weather personality.

[alex979]

I was watching AMHQ this morning and it was great. Mike was the main host as Sam was not there. Jen Carfagno was filling in for Maria. Carl Parker was doing the tropical update segments, and Anaridis did her normal news segments. I don't hate Sam, but I just think he is kind of annoying. He tries to dominate the show too much while Mike and Maria play second fiddle. I really enjoy Mike as a main host: he is likable and laid back. I'm beginning to think that the show would be better with this team, and judging by the comments I've seen on AMHQ's Facebook and twitter pages, I'm not alone.

[christina311]

I was watching AMHQ this morning and it was great. Mike was the main host as Sam was not there. Jen Carfagno was filling in for Maria. Carl Parker was doing the tropical update segments, and Anaridis did her normal news segments. I don't hate Sam, but I just think he is kind of annoying. He tries to dominate the show too much while Mike and Maria play second fiddle. I really enjoy Mike as a main host: he is likable and laid back. I'm beginning to think that the show would be better with this team, and judging by the comments I've seen on AMHQ's Facebook and twitter pages, I'm not alone.

He should be the host. And the show should be about weather.

[Adrian]

Does anyone know where Mike Bettes is? He hasn't been on AMHQ for about 3 weeks.

[toxictwister00]

Does anyone know where Mike Bettes is? He hasn't been on AMHQ for about 3 weeks.

Apparently he's been very ill. (2nd and 3rd recent posts)
https://www.facebook.com/twcmikebettes

[alex979]

And, luckily, he'll be back tomorrow!
https://twitter.com/mikebettes/status/506818971190841347