Allen Media Group is moving forward with plans to shut down its free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) network The Weather Channel en Español, according to a report this week.
On Monday, trade publication Deadline said the move was the latest cost-cutting measure by Allen Media that has included layoffs and the winding down of parts of its TV business, including the FAST channel Pattrn and pink slips at some of its local TV stations.
A spokesperson told Deadline that the company was “making strategic changes to better position the company for growth that will result in expense and workforce reductions across all divisions of the company.”
“Allen Media Group’s brands continue to perform well and in many areas our revenue growth has greatly outpaced the market,” the spokesperson affirmed. “We are aligning these changes to drive future business opportunities and support our growth strategies in our rapidly evolving industry.”
The Weather Channel en Español was a Spanish-language variant of the flagship climate-focused network. Unlike The Weather Channel, which is typically only available on pay TV platforms, The Weather Channel en Español delivered around-the-clock weather coverage, breaking news and shoulder programming through several FAST platforms, including Xumo Play and Allen Media’s own Local Now.
Allen Media said The Weather Channel en Español was the first Spanish-language, weather-focused FAST channel in the United States. Its coverage area also included the Caribbean and Latin America.
The final broadcast day for The Weather Channel en Español is expected to take place in December.
The Weather Channel remains available on cable, satellite and streaming cable-like platforms, and as a direct-to-consumer subscription through The Weather Channel apps for smartphones, tablets and TVs.
