Spencer Christian
Encyclopedia
Spencer Christian is an American
television broadcaster, best known as the former weather forecaster for ABC
's Good Morning America
from 1986 to 1998. He currently is the weather forecaster for ABC-owned KGO-TV
in San Francisco. Christian is also the author of several children's books.
in 1947. He began his broadcasting career at WWBT
in Richmond, Virginia
as a news reporter, covering state and local politics, the public school system, and landmark cases in the Fourth US Circuit Court of Appeals
. His first stint as a weatherman
came in 1975, in Baltimore, Maryland, when he was hired by news director Ron Kershaw
at WBAL-TV
to join the Action News
team which included Sue Simmons
, Mike Hambrick
, Ron Smith
, Curt Anderson
and Joe Krebs. In Baltimore, Christian quickly gained a respectable following because of his quick wit and not so dry humor. Additionally, he frequently made appearances at many community and charitable events held at shopping centers, elementary schools and little leagues. Christian was in Baltimore at the same time that Oprah was at Baltimore's WJZ-TV.
From there, Christian moved to New York City
's WABC-TV
, where he served as weatherman and sportscaster for Eyewitness News
from 1977 to 1986. In August 1986, Christian joined Good Morning America as their weather forecaster. In addition, he occasionally traveled throughout the United States and abroad, reporting on a wide range of topics from current events to human interest stories.
From 1992 to 1993, Christian was also seen on the Black Entertainment Television
cable network as the host of the music game show Triple Threat
.
Christian left Good Morning America in 1998 and began doing weather forecasts at KGO-TV
in San Francisco, California
in January 1999, a position he holds to this day. He was host of HGTV's Spencer Christian's Wine Cellar from 1995 to 1999. Christian has also hosted the PBS
model train series Tracks Ahead
since 2000. Since 2005 he has been the host of the popular afternoon show in San Francisco, View from the Bay.
He is a member of Iota Phi Theta fraternity.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television broadcaster, best known as the former weather forecaster for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
from 1986 to 1998. He currently is the weather forecaster for ABC-owned KGO-TV
KGO-TV
KGO-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, based in San Francisco, California...
in San Francisco. Christian is also the author of several children's books.
Biography
Christian was born in Charles City, VirginiaCharles City County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
in 1947. He began his broadcasting career at WWBT
WWBT
WWBT is the NBC-affiliated television station for Richmond, Virginia. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter at its studios on Midlothian Turnpike in the city. Owned by Raycom Media, the station operates CW affiliate WUPV through a shared services...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
as a news reporter, covering state and local politics, the public school system, and landmark cases in the Fourth US Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
. His first stint as a weatherman
Weather forecasting
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a given location. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since the nineteenth century...
came in 1975, in Baltimore, Maryland, when he was hired by news director Ron Kershaw
Ron Kershaw
Ron Kershaw was an American television news executive responsible for several television news innovations. Considered somewhat a genius, Kershaw was the news director in several large cities across the United States including New York, Chicago and Baltimore.-News director:In 1974, Kershaw was hired...
at WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
to join the Action News
Action News
Action News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
team which included Sue Simmons
Sue Simmons
Susan "Sue" Simmons has been the lead female news anchor at WNBC television in New York City since 1980.-Background:Simmons grew up in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem; her father was John Simmons, a renowned jazz bassist whose compatriots included Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, John...
, Mike Hambrick
Mike Hambrick
Mike Hambrick is an American television anchor and correspondent who has worked on network television stations such as WJLA-TV in Washington, DC, KTVT-TV in Dallas, KTAR-TV in Phoenix and WBAL-TV in Baltimore. Hambrick was also a news anchor for WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh where he also served as its...
, Ron Smith
Ron Smith (radio host)
Ron Smith is an American talk radio show host on WBAL in Baltimore, Maryland. His show now airs weekdays from 9 to noon ET. It formerly aired from 3 to 6 pm ET....
, Curt Anderson
Curt Anderson
Curtis Stovall Anderson is an American politician, lawyer and former broadcast journalist. Anderson was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1983, is the chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation, and past chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. After serving 12...
and Joe Krebs. In Baltimore, Christian quickly gained a respectable following because of his quick wit and not so dry humor. Additionally, he frequently made appearances at many community and charitable events held at shopping centers, elementary schools and little leagues. Christian was in Baltimore at the same time that Oprah was at Baltimore's WJZ-TV.
From there, Christian moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's WABC-TV
WABC-TV
WABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company located in New York City. The station's studios and offices are located on the Upper West Side section of Manhattan, adjacent to ABC's corporate headquarters, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State...
, where he served as weatherman and sportscaster for Eyewitness News
Eyewitness News
Eyewitness News is a style of news broadcasting used by local television stations in different markets across the United States. It refers to a particular style of television newscast with an emphasis on visual elements and action video...
from 1977 to 1986. In August 1986, Christian joined Good Morning America as their weather forecaster. In addition, he occasionally traveled throughout the United States and abroad, reporting on a wide range of topics from current events to human interest stories.
From 1992 to 1993, Christian was also seen on the Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
cable network as the host of the music game show Triple Threat
Triple Threat (game show)
Triple Threat is an American television game show that pitted two teams of three generations against each other to test their knowledge of past and present television, movies and music. Produced by Television Program Enterprises, the original version aired in weekly syndication from October 8, 1988...
.
Christian left Good Morning America in 1998 and began doing weather forecasts at KGO-TV
KGO-TV
KGO-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, based in San Francisco, California...
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in January 1999, a position he holds to this day. He was host of HGTV's Spencer Christian's Wine Cellar from 1995 to 1999. Christian has also hosted the PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
model train series Tracks Ahead
Tracks Ahead
Tracks Ahead is a television series about railroading, produced by Milwaukee Public Television for PBS starting in 1990.In general, the series examines all aspects of railroading, both in the United States and in the rest of the world. Content covers a wide range of railroad-related materials...
since 2000. Since 2005 he has been the host of the popular afternoon show in San Francisco, View from the Bay.
He is a member of Iota Phi Theta fraternity.
External links
- Spencer Christian's biography from KGO-TVKGO-TVKGO-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, based in San Francisco, California...
- Spencer Christian's page from Tracks AheadTracks AheadTracks Ahead is a television series about railroading, produced by Milwaukee Public Television for PBS starting in 1990.In general, the series examines all aspects of railroading, both in the United States and in the rest of the world. Content covers a wide range of railroad-related materials...