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Sam Champion Leaving ABC for The Weather Channel (TVNewser)
Sam Champion, weatherman for ABC’s Good Morning America, is leaving ABC and joining the Weather Channel. It’s the first talent departure at the No. 1 morning show in more than two years. Champion, an ABC veteran, has been GMA‘s weather anchor since 2006. He joined ABC 25 years ago as weather anchor for WABC in New York. Champion will be the face of the Weather Channel and also its managing editor. Beginning next year, he’ll anchor a morning show that on many days will be hosted remotely. NYT Both Champion and his boss at ABC News, Ben Sherwood, described the decision to leave GMA as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for a weather aficionado. Champion is not a meteorologist, but has been involved in coverage of numerous weather events at ABC in recent years, including the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy last year. ABC News won a Peabody Award for its coverage of that storm. NY Post ABC News meteorologist Ginger Zee will take over his weather responsibilities at the morning show and network. TheWrap “[Champion] is already one of the top names in morning television, as well as one of the country’s most respected and trusted weather reporters,” said Weather Channel president David Clark. “He will add a great deal to our network and be a great addition to our already proven and stellar team of talented weather professionals.” TVNewser Champion sent a note to his ABC “family” thanking them for the support and giving hints as to why he left the No. 1 morning show.
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