ABC News announced that meteorologist Sam Champion is leaving "Good Morning America" for the Weather Channel. ABC News president Ben Sherwood announced that Champion's last show on "GMA" will be Wednesday Dec. 4, People magazine reports.
Champion, 52, has been with ABC for 25 years and started reporting the weather on "GMA" in 2006. He began his career on a local Kentucky station. Champion will become a host for a new morning show on the Weather Channel as well as managing editor.
"Over the years at GMA, Sam has broadcast more than 1,800 weather forecasts. For 25 years, Sam has been a vital member of the ABC News family - joining powerhouse station WABC in 1988 and GMA in 2006," Sherwood said in a statement.
The Weather Channel also released a statement saying that the new morning show will debut in early 2014.
"This is such an exciting opportunity," he told TVNewser. "It's a dream job for a weather junky like me."
"Robin, George, Lara and Josh are the best friends and colleagues you could hope for," he added. "I'll always cherish the two and a half decades at ABC."
The Weather Channel is part-owned by ABC rival NBCUniversal. Following Champion's departure meteorologist Ginger Zee will take over on "GMA."
"As you know, Ginger always rushes straight toward the eye of any storm and weaves cutting-edge science with human emotion to elevate our coverage," Sherwood said.
Champion has been receiving tons of well-wishes from not only his colleagues at ABC but fans.
"Only an amazing opportunity like this at @weatherchannel cld take me away from my @ABC family of 25 yrs and @GMA #blessedlife," Champion tweeted as he thanked people for their support.
According to TVNewser, Robin Roberts is close to signing a new deal with ABC News.
