NewsChannel 5 worked “actively” to try to keep popular meteorologist Bree Smith at the station and renew her contract, station manager Richard Eller said in an email to The Tennessean.
Smith’s last day was Jan. 10 and neither she nor WTVF let viewers know ahead of time that she was leaving after nine years on air. It wasn’t until four days later that Smith, 43, confirmed to The Tennessean and on her Facebook page that she no longer worked at the station.
That unleashed thousands of comments from viewers who were upset that Smith was gone and that she didn’t get an on-air goodbye or thank you from NewsChannel 5.
Former NewsChannel 5 meteorologist Bree Smith in her Hendersonville, Tenn., home July 20, 2021
At the time, Smith declined to talk about negotiations, saying only that her contract had ended.
Over the weekend, the station manager said in an email that executives wanted Smith to stay.
“While we can’t share specifics out of respect for Bree’s privacy,” Eller wrote, “we can tell you that we were actively working toward an agreement to keep Bree on and we were disappointed that those negotiations were not successful.”
Eller declined to comment directly on why there was no on-air goodbye for Smith, again citing concern for her privacy, but suggested that a quiet departure was her choice.
“Bree has been an important member of our weather team for several years, and we know that means our viewers are also sad to see her go,” he wrote.
“We are so fortunate to have a team with a lot of tenure — in the newsroom and in the community. Many of us have worked together for a long time. Like any other business, occasionally people decide to leave for a wide variety of reasons.
“If someone is making that kind of change, we usually take our cues from them about what kind of recognition they want. Some want a big send off, some prefer to leave quietly and others want to take some time and decide later. We respect people’s right to choose what is best for them.”
Bree Smith at her Hendersonville home in 2021
Smith did not immediately respond an email and a text message asking for response to the station’s statement.
She said last week she plans to stay in Nashville. “I plan on being a mommy and a meteorologist,” Smith added, providing no details on what her plans might be.
Since she left the station, Smith remains active on her social media, posting about the weather and providing tips for staying warm in the bitter cold.
Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or at 615-259-8384.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bree Smith: NewsChannel 5 said it ‘actively’ worked to keep her on the air
