The Washington Post reports the decision to ax the show was a financial one according to multiple reports. It is the Atlanta-based network’s only show out of New York City, where production costs are very high.
Co-hosted by meteorologist Stephanie Abrams, ‘Wake Up with Al” has aired on TWC for the past 6 years. A replacement program has not yet been announced nor is it clear what role, if any, Roker and Abrams will play.
“I’m proud of what our ‘Wake Up With Al’ team brought to the Weather Channel and completely understand the decision to move all shows to Atlanta,” Roker said. “I look forward to continuing to partner with the Channel on-air and through my production company on future traditional and digital projects.”
The cost-cutting measure comes at the same time TWC has seen its estimated value plummet. “As of June 30, Comcast valued its stake in the Weather Channel at only $86 million, down from $335 million at the end of last year,” The Wall Street Journal reported in July.
TWC’s conglomerate of owners, Comcast as well as the private equity firms Bain Capital and Blackstone Group, may sell the network, Bloomberg recently reported.
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