What happened to mark watkins on wsoctv?

Answer 1

From Watauga Democrat

http://www.wataugademocrat.com/0_editorial.php

A meteorologist says goodbye

Editor:

To TV viewers: I wanted to thank you for the wonderful support you have shown me during my 16 years doing morning and noon weather reports for WSOC-TV, Charlotte. It was always great to be in your area, have people recognize me and introduce themselves. Meeting viewers is one of the best things about being on TV.

You may have noticed that I am no longer on the air, and wondered why. In February WSOC told me I was finished there. I have not been given a reason for my dismissal, but WSOC has been telling folks who call or email that I have "retired." I assure you that is not the case. We still have young children at home, 8 and 16 years old - they won't let me retire yet! Hard as it was to get up at 1:30 a.m. every day to be at work by 3 a.m., I did not leave WSOC by choice.

My reason for writing this letter was to properly say goodbye to my viewers, and thank you for all the terrific years. I regret that WSOC did not allow me to do this on-air, and actually I was not allowed to even say goodbye to my co-workers. Had I been given the opportunity to address you on-air, I would have said thank you for watching my weather segments, thank you for your loyalty, and thank you for the times you introduced yourselves when you saw me. Thank you for 16 remarkable years.

Mark Watkins

Former WSOC-TV Meteorologist

Mr. Watkins just turned up on 7&4 a television station in northern Michigan

Answer 2

He was fired by WSOC TV Channel 9 Eyewitness News, for what I knew to be coming. A particular week & morning, he was on air coughing & clearing his throat aggressively, without ever saying excuse me. Each time his weather segment was on air, like every 10 minutes, he would go into this coughing, and spit clearing of the throat. It was very astonishing. I discerned he was doing it intentionally. I was surprised & shocked by what I was witnessing. I told my gf at the time, he gonna get fired, etc. Within 2 weeks, he was replaced by Meteorologist Keith Monday, who was very young at the time and is currently in the same position at WSOC TV. 🙂