rdale
EF5
But they also drove in a new audience, one far more likely to stay on in the Internet era 10 years from now, than just weather programming.
Comcast Writes Down Value of Weather Channel by $250 Million
- Thread starter John Robinson
- Start date
John Farley
Supporter
I like to watch it when there is a significant weather event going on (if they actually cover it, that is) and I think a lot of others feel that way, too. But their canned evening programming really gets in the way of that. A few weeks ago when major, potentially tornadic storms were moving in to a major metro area (St. Louis) I tuned in hoping for Dr. Forbes and got fat guys in the woods. Driving away your core audience is never a good idea.
Robert Forry
EF3
I'm like John in that I like to watch it when there is a significant event going on (unless I'm out chasing), but other than that I stopped watching regularly a year or so ago. I will tune in when I know is going to appear on Tornado Alley, but that's usually the only exception. The rest of their programming is pretty much rubbish IMO.
John Olexa
EF5
TWC broke into programming to go to a press conference after the circus accident the other day. The conference had nothing to do with the weather part of it, only about "permits" and "fire marshal codes" but they stayed with it. Guess that's the news channel part coming out ( Which they do a lot)
The one thing I like most about Weather Nation is they constantly run all active watches & warnings at the bottom of the screen. State, type watch/warning than counties. Even during commercials !
The one thing I like most about Weather Nation is they constantly run all active watches & warnings at the bottom of the screen. State, type watch/warning than counties. Even during commercials !
rdale
EF5
I was excited about WN until Dish got it and I realized it's generic taped stuff. Nothing to see here 
John Olexa
EF5
WUWA was the same way. Comes on here at 5:00 am to 6:00 than again from 6:00 am -7:00. The 6 to 7 one was a complete repeat. May still be I don't watch.
Is Paul Douglas still involved with WN?
Is Paul Douglas still involved with WN?
Damon Poole
EF2
Every bit of TV News & Weather has recorded content in it. TWC does the same thing. To say WN is the only practitioner of this is wrong. When you do multiple regionalized segments. you have to record some of them. If you think it's all live 24-7. think again.I was excited about WN until Dish got it and I realized it's generic taped stuff. Nothing to see here
rdale
EF5
Are you sure TWC is taped during the day? Even during severe weather coverage? I'm going to have to pull the "prove it" card Unless they have the ability to pre-record NWS warnings and air them on the fly - their stuff is live during big events. WN only gives live hits at the top of the hour even during active severe weather.
Unless they have the ability to pre-record NWS warnings and air them on the fly - their stuff is live during big events. WN only gives live hits at the top of the hour even during active severe weather.
Damon Poole
EF2
TWC isn't live when it's running those long form entertainment shows, and there are times like during the overnights, those hours get played like the greatest hits on radio. You couldn't get a live update if lives depended on it.
Are you sure TWC is taped during the day? Even during severe weather coverage? I'm going to have to pull the "prove it" card
joel ewing
EF5
You're right, Warren. My cousins and I BEGGED my elderly aunt / uncle (my cousin's parents) to subscribe to cable so they could have access to The Weather Channel. Seriously, I mean we BEGGED, because they both grew up dirt poor in Nebr. during the Great Depression and to them, spending money for Cable "when we've already got free local t.v." was considered being foolishly extravagant by the both." Since their farm was only 90 miles north of the annual "Tornado-Bullseye-of-Nebraska"....Grand Island....we wanted them to have the best storm coverage that a high-profile, bucks-up 24hrs/day outfit like The Weather Channel could provide. Well, we finally wore them down, and soon they were hooked up with cable. The next spring I was back in tornado alley for my annual storm-chase month. I stopped by their farm and stayed with them during a short, storm-free few days. We were watching t.v. after supper and I asked them if they'd please change the channel for a quick moment to the Weather Channel, so I could see what was going on around the alley. They informed me that they had cancelled their Cable subscription. I was shocked...and a little ticked off, although I kept that to myself. It turns out, they really felt that their LOCAL weather stations....out of Grand Island, Hastings and Lincoln, did a FAR better job with keeping them apprised with the best up-to-the-second live radar views and reports than The Weather Channel did during severe / tornadic weather episodes. And truth be told, once I actually watched a few local stations do their thing when there was tornadic weather in the area late one night, I absolutely had to agree with them. I soon became obvious to me that The Weather Channel basically lets the folks out in "flyover country" fend for themselves when the going gets rough. Not enough viewers in a county like theirs that has only 6,000 or so residents compared to the masses in the D.C. Beltway.....so naturally the Beltway and the entire Northeast USA (and Florida...lol) get most of the Weather Channel "lovin". We were soooo hopeful that The Weather Channel would provide something special for our old folks still out on the farm, but it wasn't meant to be. Too bad, too. It could have been such a great thing.
joel ewing
EF5
Like who, Rob? (who is the "new" audience that they "drove in"?) and what is the wx. channel doing differently that is so attractive to this new set of eyeballs?
rdale
EF5
Correct. WN does that 24/7. At least during the day, especially during outbreaks, TWC is live. WN never is.
Since their ratings are quite good during times of their reality shows, I'd say their new audience is the same audience that likes those sorts of shows which are on the increase in every major network. Ma and pa really don't care about the 830pm conditions in Kalkaska Michigan but they do like to see two men walking in the woods apparently.
It's all down to business sense. Show just weather 24/7 and close the doors - or provide content people will repeatedly tune in for and make the money it takes to keep mets on staff and provide sevwx coverage for the big events. Seeing people say that TWC is missing the boat by not doing weather is simply misunderstanding the business cycle.
Damon Poole
EF2
Business models do not concern me, staying on mission and maintaining focus does. Therein lies the problem with TWC, it has lost focus from its original core mission, which is what brought it to prominence in the first place. TWC's focus on profit has ruined it for many. WN may be recorded, but it at least is current and it stays on mission. NOAA Weather Radio, albeit an automated government service, at least stays on its focus. And, do not tell me how no one listens to NWR, as it is a proven life saver for late night emergencies when TWC's "business model" wouldn't let them even think about going live.
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rdale
EF5
If you aren't responsible for keeping TWC in business - it's okay that the model doesn't concern you History Channel used to be ALL history. It's not anymore because nobody watched. Their options - go out of business, or change the model. If TWC stayed "true to their mission"(?) they would be out of business or throwing up the WN stuff.
I'm not sure what NWR has to do with it - surveys show that people don't use it and the percentages continue to drop with apps & WEA in place.
History Channel used to be ALL history. It's not anymore because nobody watched. Their options - go out of business, or change the model. If TWC stayed "true to their mission"(?) they would be out of business or throwing up the WN stuff.I'm not sure what NWR has to do with it - surveys show that people don't use it and the percentages continue to drop with apps & WEA in place.
John Farley
Supporter
Maybe what you say is true, Rob, but I used to watch both TWC and the History Channel more in the past than now with the junk they put on. And I know quite a few others who feel the same way. But maybe they have attracted other viewers for those they have lost. However, the numbers in the news story that brought about this thread would suggest they were doing better in the past with the old model. Who knows, maybe all the reasonably intelligent people are on the internet now so the only ones watching TV are the ones that want the stupid stuff. But for whatever reason, nearly all the formerly-good cable channels have gotten away from what they were originally about and have fewer viewers now than they did then.
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