Sam Champion Exits 'Good Morning America', Leaves For Weather Channel [REPORTS]
Sam Champion will be leaving Good Morning America this week, after 25 years working for ABC, it was announced on Monday.
ABC announced in a statement that Wednesday will be Champion's last day working at the hit morning show, according to reports.
"Our friend and colleague Sam Champion is leaving ABC News for a new opportunity at the Weather Channel," the network said in a statement. "He will become the on-air face of the network, appearing as a host and serving as managing editor. Sam calls it a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Champion has been working at ABC since 1988 and appeared on GMA since 2006. GMA will celebrate Champion's career at the program by featuring clips of special past moments during Wednesday's live broadcast.
ABC News president Ben Sherwood said in an email statement to employees that Champion has broadcast more than 1,800 weather forecasts for the network.
"He has traveled to almost every major weather event in the U.S. As many of you know, Sam's 'Go' bag is always ready and his stellar reporting during Superstorm Sandy contributed to ABC's Peabody Award for coverage of that historic storm," Sherwood wrote, according to Hollywood Reporter.
Champion will begin at The Weather Channel's Q1 morning show next year. The fan favorite reporter will relocate to Atlanta for the gig, which is part of the NBC Universal News Group.
Weather Channel president David Clark also praised Champion in a statement.
"Sam is already one of the top names in morning television, as well as one of the country's most respected and trusted weather reporters," he wrote, according to THR's report. "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. With his commitment to understanding, predicting and explaining the power of weather in our lives, Sam perfectly embodies The Weather Channel's brand philosophy, 'It's Amazing Out There.'"
Champion's duties at GMA will be reassigned to Ginger Zee, according to the reports.
