Media: Champion to Weather Channel; Bellantoni Back to Roll Call; Pearson Unloads Mergermarmket

CHAMPION SHIFTS TO WEATHER CHANNEL

Weatherman Sam Champion, a fixture on ABC for the past 25 years, is moving to the Weather Channel as host of a new morning show to debut in 2014 and managing editor in its Atlanta headquarters.

He joined ABC’s WABC New York flagship and moved to “Good Morning America” in 2006.

At GMA, Champion broadcast more than 1,800 forecasts and traveled the U.S. for coverage of weather events such as Florida hurricanes, Hurricane Katrina, Joplin (MO) tornado and Superstorm Sandy.

Ben Sherwood, president of ABC News, via a memo thanked Champion for his “countless contributions to our news division” and wished him the best as he pursues an “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

Dave Clark, TWC president, called Champion “one of the top names in morning TV, as well as one of the country’s most respected and trusted weather reporters.”

NEWSHOUR'S BELLANTONI RETURNS TO ROLL CALL

Christina Bellantoni is returning to Roll Call as editor-in-chief following a two-year stint as political editor of PBS’ Newshour.

She’s in charge of all print and digital platforms with the mission to drive audience engagement and enlargement. Bellantoni will do a blog and make live appearances at CQ Roll Call events.

She  had been political associate politics editor at RQ before decamping for Newshour.

Earlier, Bellantoni worked at Talking Points Memo and the Washington Times.

CQ Roll Call is part of the Economist Group.

PEARSON UNLOADS MERGERMARKET

Britain’s Pearson is selling The Mergermarket Group provider of corporate financial data and analysis to investment firms, hedge funds and companies for about $550M in cash.

John Fallon, Pearson CEO, said proceeds from the divestiture will help fund his company’s drive into the fast-growing education market and accelerate the push into digital learning.

Pearson’s FTGroup acquired Mergermarket in 2006 for $140M plus earnouts. The group includes Debtwire, XportReporter, Wealthmonitor, Mergermarket and Dealwire. It reported revenues of $140M and earned $35M during the past year.

BC Partners is buying Mergermarket. Nikos Stathopoulos, managing partner of the $17B in assets fund, called the new addition “a global market leader with an attractive business model, strong growth and loyal customers.”

CEO Hamilton Matthews is expected to remain at the helm of Mergermarket after the BC transaction closes during the first-quarter of 2014.

Pearson has retained ownership of Financial Times and the 50 percent stake in The Economist Group.