Sam Champion to Exit ABC News for Weather Channel (NEW YORK) - "Good Morning America" weather anchor Sam Champion is leaving ABC News to join the Weather Channel. Weather Channel President David Clark announced Monday that Champion will anchor the network's new flagship morning show, which is set to debut in early 2014. Champion, who will be based at the Weather Channel headquarters in Atlanta, will also assume managing editor responsibilities at the network. His last day on "GMA" is Wednesday. He had been on that program since 2006. He joined local New York station WABC in 1988. ABC News President Ben Sherwood said Champion's fellow meteorologist Ginger Zee will take over his weather responsibilities at "GMA" and across the news division. Champion has been part of the "GMA" team as it seized the ratings crown from NBC's longtime front-running "Today" show.