Q: Sam Champion was hired by the Weather Channel from ABC some time ago, but now he is back on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Was he fired by the Weather Channel?
—Marion G. Webb Jr., Austell
A: Champion filled in last week for ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee while she is on maternity leave.
ABC announced the move on Jan. 4 with a video segment showing Champion and Zee, who took over from Champion when he left “Good Morning America” in December 2013.
They then both talked about the situation via phone with the show’s hosts.
“(The audience) is the most fun part of the entire show, to get outside and spend some time with the people who come to see us,” Champion said. “I think I have to buy a winter coat.”
He spent seven years on “Good Morning America.”
Champion was the host of the Weather Channel’s “AMHQ” until the network announced last fall that it planned to reduce its nightly reality shows and refocus on the weather.
He has been developing a new TWC show, which will be called “23.5 Degrees with Sam Champion,” the New York Post reported last week.
The hour-long show will feature interviews with weather experts and likely will debut in February. The show’s name comes from the earth’s tilt, Champion told the newspaper.
“People who love the climate, love the environment and love space understand that the earth is on an actual tilt (23.5 degrees), which is the key ingredient to making us a hospitable planet,” he said.
The show will be shot in both Atlanta and New York, the Post reported.
Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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