Out the Door in Albany

After a decade with WNYT, Meteorologist Neal Estano has announced his departure from the station. Estano has been a prominent figure in the broadcast media industry for over 35 years, with his career starting back in 1987 when he became the first TV morning meteorologist on the initial morning newscast in the area at WRGB/CBS6 Albany.

Over the years, Estano has been an integral part of the morning news program at WNYT, where he has been one of only four meteorologists on the morning news since the show's inception. The morning program began in the late 1980s with the famed Norm Sebastián, who tragically died of cancer in 2000 at age 44. Paul Caiano took over after Sebastián, and more recently, Estano and Christina Talamo teamed up on weekday mornings, with Talamo also doing the weather on weekend mornings.

Estano briefly left broadcast television to work in real estate and at The Point Resort in Saranac Lake before returning to WNYT in 2013. He has confirmed that he will not be going to another station but has not provided any further comment regarding his departure.

When asked by the Albany Times Union about Estano's departure and his replacement, WNYT news director Michael A. Raffaele said, "I think what we posted on the website works for us. I appreciate you reaching out."

Estano's departure marks the second broadcast media personality to leave their station in the first two months of 2023. On Monday, Spectrum's Jaclyn Cangro also announced her departure. Last year, 25 people left their Capital Region-based on-air media roles.