Allen Media reverses course on weather changes at WSIL

UPDATE

Allen Media Broadcasting, the parent company of WSIL in Harrisburg, has reversed course on the proposed changes to their weather coverage.

Allen Media Regional Vice President Dan Batchelor confirmed to West Kentucky Star that the move to release all local meteorologists in favor of hubbed coverage from the studios of The Weather Channel has been scrapped. He said the decision has overwhelming support from leadership in the local TV markets.  

Batchelor said in a text message that "AMB has decided, based on viewer and advertiser reaction, to scrap the project on a company-wide basis. The decision is universally supported by the company leadership in all AMB TV markets."

Batchelor oversees both WSIL and WEVV in Evansville. He said in an interview on Wednesday that general managers within the group expressed their concerns about the move when it was rolled out to them last week.

There is no word on whether some cuts would still be made.

Original Story

Big changes are coming to dozens of local TV stations around the country owned by Allen Media Group, which owns WSIL.

A representative of Allen Media Group has confirmed to West Kentucky Star that they will use a hub in Atlanta to replace all the local meteorologists in the company. The hub would be in the studios of The Weather Channel, which is also owned by Allen. 

The rollout of the new Weather Channel forecasts is coming over the next few weeks.

Dan Batchelor, Regional Vice President for Allen Media Group, oversees both WSIL and WEVV in Evansville. He spoke with West Kentucky Star about the technical advantage that The Weather Channel partnership brings, "The technology and the equipment that they have access to far is superior what we have on a local level or any station has on a local level - that's not just our stations -  but most local stations in a small market don't have anywhere near the capabilities of what they have at The Weather Channel. So what we give up with a local person we expect to have a superior presentation in terms of what's the latest and fastest and most accurate technology at The Weather Channel."

Batchelor said that the stations would have consistent forecasters and if the need arises during severe weather, they could go wall-to-wall utilizing the assigned meteorologists, but there would be growing pains. "I'm certain that the first time we do extended coverage of severe weather, there may be some glitches or some technical 'oh boy, you know we didn't think of that' or whatever but there is always a deep concern at every station of making our community safe and providing the most accurate forecast."

He added that the human toll is the hardest part. "The problem with this is we have to say goodbye to some people who are family, and in many of our markets, they're celebrities and people that you know are pillars in the community. And that's the difficult part about this. The people is a very difficult pill to swallow."

Batchelor said that, to date, no one had been laid off or fired as a result of this initiative, but they had been made aware that this change was coming. He said they plan to work with their staff to help them find other employment.  

West Kentucky Star Chief Meteorologist Lew Jetton said the move is about saving money. "Obviously, this is a cost-cutting measure employed by these stations and I think we'll see more of this in the future. Sinclair, another broadcast group,  already subs out a lot of their local newscasts to remote studios." Adding that, "Local TV stations are facing increasingly tougher times because of streaming, and the way people consume news. Now, local TV stations are facing a lot of the challenges which local newspapers started facing years ago."

Not having local forecasters and meteorologists could slow the flow of information to the public during severe weather outbreaks, especially as the spring severe weather season approaches. Technical issues and presenters unfamiliar with a region could be potential dangers as well. 

Jetton said, "The thing which concerns most people is what would happen during local severe weather events. Will meteorologists forecasting for these stations be able to track the storms live? More than likely not and obviously that would affect response times for viewers." He said with his experience, "I find this move, very alarming, and possibly dangerous for public safety."

Allen Media Group owns local television stations in small and medium markets, The Weather Channel, a motion picture studio, and a host of free ad-supported streaming channels. Byron Allen, a comedian and television presenter heads the group.

Some source material from NewscastStudio

Photo courtesy of Allen Media Group