ABC IN TURMOIL: GMA Shocks fans with NEXT EXIT ANNOUNCEMENT – Viewers Stunned, ‘NO WAY, PLEASE DON’T!’

Less than four months after weatherman Sam Champion bid adieu to Good Morning America, Josh Elliott is following suit and leaving ABC’s morning show.

Elliott, whose current contract with GMA ends in less than a month is headed to NBC Sports. The news anchor has been a familiar face to viewers since he joined the show in 2011, coming from ABC-owned ESPN. Contract negotiations grew tense as Elliott asked for $10 million a year (up from his current $1 million paycheck), while the network would only meet him halfway at $5 million.

Josh Elliott

“As many of you know, we have been negotiating with Josh these past several months” ABC News Chief Ben Sherwoodwrote in a memo Sunday night.” In good faith, we worked hard to close a significant gap between our generous offer and his expectations. In the end, Josh felt he deserved a different deal and so he chose a new path. I want to thank Josh for his many contributions to GMA and ABC News. Later in the week, we will bid him farewell. With Robin, George, Lara, Ginger and Amy, GMA‘s best days are ahead.”

News of Elliott’s exit and the details of his contract negotiations come just days after GMA signed a multi-year deal with anchor Lara Spencer for a reported $2 million a year.

Along with Elliott’s departure, Sherwood also announced that GMA correspondent Amy Robach will begin reporting in his place immediately with Monday marking her first official day at the news desk. Last fall Robach, who is used to reporting the news, became the story as an on-air mammogram revealed she had breast cancer. “Amy will be a fierce and formidable full-time addition to our GMA team,” Sherwood said.

“We always knew that Amy was special and we have all been especially inspired to watch her battle breast cancer with grace and determination,” he continued. “Indeed, she thrilled us with two weeks of memorable dispatches from Sochi anchoring our Olympic coverage — all between chemo treatments. Amy will be a fierce and formidable full-time addition to our GMA team.”

Over on AMHQ Monday morning, Champion had some kind words for his former colleague. “He’s a great guy and a very good friend, and what folks need to understand is that just like The Weather Channel was an incredible opportunity for my heart, NBC Sports is a great opportunity for Josh’s heart. It puts him right in the middle of the sports world, and that is what he loves . . . This is a happy, happy time for Josh.”