Longtime WLFI-TV meteorologist Chad Evans signed off the local TV airwaves. Several sources confirmed Evan's pending separation from WLFI, making him the latest well-known, high-profile, on-air personality to leave the Lafayette station.
Chad Evans, longtime WLFI-TV meteorologist.
WLFI is owned by Allen Media Group, which announced a plan to restructure its TV stations. The plan included ending local weather forecasts. Allen Media Group's plan is to use forecasts from The Weather Channel tailored for local markets.
It was learned last spring that longtime anchor Jeff Smith would leave in the fall. WLFI is no exception. Allen Media Group has been the focus of many news reports about its financial challenges.
Evans came to WLFI in 2009 and left to go to another station in the summer of 2015. He then returned to the West Lafayette broadcaster in 2018. Evans is on his second stint with WLFI. He spent six years with the CBS affiliate before leaving to be chief meteorologist at CBS/Fox 44 in Evansville in 2015.
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Allen Media Group's Restructuring
An Allen Media Group press release announced it is transferring its local forecasting to The Weather Channel, which is owned by the same company. "The Allen Media Group broadcast television station division ... is rolling out a groundbreaking format for local weather coverage powered by The Weather Channel across local markets nationwide," the new release said.
This new weather initiative is set to roll out across AMB’s local television markets in 2025. "This innovative partnership based at The Weather Channel’s Atlanta headquarters brings together world-class meteorological expertise, cutting-edge technology, and the most advanced forecasting tools to deliver superior weather content to local television station audiences."
Allen Media, which owns stations in more than 20 mid-sized to small markets across the country, announced it was consolidating its weather coverage, confirming industry trade rumors. The release from Allen laid out what it called an “innovative partnership based at The Weather Channel’s Atlanta headquarters brings together world-class meteorological expertise, cutting-edge technology and the most advanced forecasting tools to deliver superior weather content to local television station audiences.”
TODAY’S A GOOD DAY TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASED IN LAFAYETTE REPORTING PROJECT. “The offering will feature a newly assembled team leveraging cutting-edge forecasting tools, proprietary immersive mixed reality, and award-winning visual storytelling,” according to Allen Media’s release over the weekend. “The team will be led by Meteorologist Carl Parker - a storm and climate specialist and 20-year veteran of The Weather Channel - and will also include some of the AMB local market meteorologists who will transition to Atlanta to be part of the next-level local weather initiative.”
Allen Media touted that “by utilizing The Weather Channel’s advanced technology, local stations will provide quicker, more efficient updates while enhancing the viewer experience. This initiative will improve both content delivery and operational efficiency, ensuring timely and reliable weather news for communities nationwide 24/7.”
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Tom O’Brien, president of Weather Group/The Weather Channel, said in a release: “We are 100% committed to delivering next-level weather news to our local television stations 24/7.” Allen Media said some of the company’s meteorologists would be brought to the Atlanta studios for the new approach to local weather.
In recent days, the move already has resulted in layoffs for on-air meteorologists, some of which started rolling out last week in places such as Terre Haute, Indiana; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Flint, Michigan.
Evans' Final Broadcast and Future Plans
Longtime WLFI-TV meteorologist Chad Evans signed off the local TV airwaves Friday night. "Yes, this is my last night," Evans said Friday afternoon in a text to the Journal & Courier. "I have a couple opportunities with teaching and forecasting that I’ll be announcing on my FB page this weekend."
Sources said they do not know when Evan's last broadcast will be. Evans told local journalist Dave Bangert on Monday that he does not know when his last day will be. Evans said his final day in WLFI’s West Lafayette studios hadn’t been set, as of Monday. “Even though my time is going to be up, I will work until the last day,” Evans said. “I owe it to the community. I care about them, and I'm never going to slack for anything.”
While other Allen Media Group meteorologists were sidelined, Evans continued to bring Greater Lafayette its weather forecasts. The community embraced Evans' steadfastness to the area. "This community means everything to us and I want to serve it all the days of my life," Evans wrote in a text. "We are thankful that we are still staying here."
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"We are thankful that we are still staying here." The words of encouragement and support mean more than words could express. Losing my job or not, my family and I have fought hard to remain here and not move."
Reactions and Support
Like everyone within the WLFI viewing area I cherish Chad Evans and will miss him very much!" Yoder texted to the Journal & Courier. "I wish him nothing but happiness, health and success moving forward!" WLFI Vice President and Station Manager Gary Yoder offered words of encouragement for Evans.
As of this weekend, TV18 continued to run promos featuring Evans, the station’s winter weather coverage and Greater Lafayette’s only local forecast on TV. (Star City Broadcasting, which runs news on several network affiliates in Lafayette, broadcasts its weather from anchors in remote studios.)
It wasn’t clear whether others on the WLFI staff would be affected by the moves. WLFI management did not immediately respond to messages for comment Monday.
Touches of the plan already been apparent. Parker was introduced during a Jan. 12 WLFI broadcast as the station’s “chief meteorologist,” a designation that typically labeled Evans’ appearances on nightly shows. WLFI broadcasts Saturday and Sunday featured Todd Borek of The Weather Channel.
Todd Borek, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel, gave the forecast on WLFI Sunday night.
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