The Weather Channel
| File:160x120 twc logo05.jpg | |
| Type | Cable network (Weather/meteorology) |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability | National; affiliated services available internationally |
| Owner | The Weather Channel, Inc. |
Key people | Debora J. Wilson — President, The Weather Channel, Inc. |
Launch date | May 2, 1982 |
Official website | http://www.weather.com |
The Weather Channel (TWC) is a cable and satellite television network that many people consider to have revolutionized the reporting of weather and weather-related news by being on 24 hours a day. The Weather Channel is headquartered in Vinings, Georgia, near Atlanta. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Landmark Communications.
History
The Weather Channel went on the air on May 2, 1982 and reports the weather and other meteorological information for the United States as well as other countries and regions of the world. TWC originally gathered its national region forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and gathered its local forecasts from local National Weather Service offices, but since 2002 has done local forecasting in-house; however, current weather and forecast model data is still provided by the National Weather Service, and the ultraviolet index is from the Environmental Protection Agency.
TWC also uses special proprietary equipment that inserts local weather forecast and warning information if it is viewed on a cable TV system. The original WeatherStar technology has been upgraded on most cable systems to IntelliStar, including Vocal Local to announce the three-day local forecast. Satellite viewers see a roundup of local TWC forecasts for major cities across the U.S., as well as satellite and radar images, and severe weather watch and warning maps when active.
The Weather Channel produces a service, based on modified versions of WeatherStar technology, called Weatherscan on which a separate channel constantly displays local and regional conditions and forecasts along with The Weather Channel's logo and advertisements.
TWC's sister channel in Canada is The Weather Network in English and MétéoMédia in French, which uses similar technology that is currently in use in the USA. TWC also runs websites in Brazil (Canal do Tempo), the United Kingdom (Weather Channel), France (Meteo 123) and Germany (Wetter 123). Apart from their stake in The Weather Network/MétéoMédia, TWC only runs their US channel, although it does air an international forecast.
A definitive history of the network, The Weather Channel: The Improbable Rise of a Media Phenomenon, by Frank Batten and Jeffrey L. Cruikshank, was published by Harvard Business Press in May 2002, on TWC's 20th anniversary.
In March 2005, The Weather Channel announced that it would receive a new logo/tagline, "Bringing Weather to Life," replacing the 2001 "Live By it" campaign. This change began on August 15, 2005, with changes in formats and programming taking place as part of a subsequent gradual transition that lasted until December.
Overseas versions
Over the years, attempts to broadcast international versions of TWC (apart from Canada's The Weather Network/MétéoMédia) have failed. A UK version of The Weather Channel ran from 1 September 1996 to 30 January 1998, when it was closed due to low viewing figures. TWC also ran The Weather Channel Latin America (TWCLA), which operated in Spanish in Mexico, Puerto Rico and South America, this network ceased operations in December 2002. The service's three original anchors were Paola Elorza, Sal Morales and Mari Carmen Ramos who left the channel within a year of its launch and went on to work for Univision in Miami, Telemundo in Los Angeles and CNN International. At one point, there was also a Portuguese version in Brazil. The Weather Channel aired overnights in Hawaii on local TV stations, but its WeatherStar 4000 unit suffered from several technical difficulties during its run, its programming has since been dropped.
The Weather Channel logo
The Weather Channel's most recognized logo started out as a slightly-squished blue rectangular box that debuted on TWC’s first broadcast on May 2, 1982. This logo would later be revised in 1996, with the corners and "Weather Channel" text font less rounded. The URL text "weather.com" was permanently added underneath the logo in 1999. More recently, in August 2005, the logo was re-overhauled; the blue rectangle’s corners are straight, and the "Weather Channel" text is now in lower-case and left-justified.
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The classic Weather Channel logo, used from 1982 to 1996.
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The old Weather Channel logo used from 1996 to 2005.
"Green Wall"
The two green walls used at the TWC studios in Atlanta is displayed a few feet from the main studio desk is used normally for on-air weather forecasting, some people tease at the fact that a meteorologist is pointing to a blank green wall.
Local on the 8s
Local on the 8s airs about every 10 minutes. During this segment, weather information for the local area is given.
The reason for the name is that it airs at times that end in "8" (in general). Before this was implemented, the local forecast was seen about 8 times an hour at various times, depending on the time of day (more in the morning, less at night).
Current Shows
Storm Stories - 2003-present, weeknights at 8pm ET/PT, host Jim Cantore.
Full Force Nature - 2006-present, Sunday Nights at 9pm ET/PT
It Could Happen Tomorrow - 2006-present, Sunday Nights at 9:30pm ET/PT
Forecast Earth - 2004-present, Weekends at 5pm ET/PT, host Nick Walker (2004-2005)
Weather Classroom - Saturdays at 4am ET/PT
Past Shows
Atmospheres - 2000-2002, hosts Jim Cantore and Mish Michaels.
Exposures - 1995, host Dennis Smith.
Charlie the Red Dog, animated TV series originally ran on ABC in the 1970s) Rerun on The Weather Channel (1982-1991?) - host, Bruce Edwards? (meteorologist)
Current Programs
On-Camera Meteorologists
Current
- Kristina Abernathy, Co-Anchor, Weekend Now (with TWC since July 1995)
- Stephanie Abrams, Field Reporter, Weekend View (with TWC since June 2003)
- Hillary Andrews, Co-Anchor, Evening Edition (West Coast) (with TWC since 2001)
- Adam Berg, Weather.com Broadcaster (with TWC since 1999)
- Mike Bettes, Co-Anchor, Evening Edition Weekend (with TWC since 2003)
- Vivian Brown, Co-Anchor, Afternoon Outlook (with TWC since 1987)
- Jim Cantore, StormTracker, Evening Edition, Storm Stories Narrator (with TWC since July 1986)
- Jennifer Carfagno, Travel Analyst, First Outlook (with TWC since 2000)
- Kelly Cass, Co-Anchor, Weekend View (with TWC since January 2000)
- Betty Davis, Co-Anchor, Weekend Weather Center (with TWC since September 2005)
- Eboni Deon, Co-Anchor, Weekend Outlook (with TWC since June 2001)
- Kristin Dodd, Co-Anchor, Weekend Weather Center (with TWC since May 1997)
- Paul Goodloe, Co-Anchor, Evening Edition (with TWC since April 1999)
- Ryan Goswick, Weather.com broadcaster
- Rich Johnson, Co-Anchor, Weather Center (with TWC since December 1987)
- Jeanetta Jones, Co-Anchor, Weather Center (with TWC since July 1986)
- Bill Keneely, Co-Anchor, Weekend View (with TWC since May 1982)
- Paul Kocin, Winter Weather Expert
- Cheryl Lemke, Co-Anchor, PM Edition Weekend (with TWC since June 1986)
- Sarah Libby, Weather.com Broadcaster (with TWC since March 2005)
- Jennifer Lopez, Co-Anchor, PM Edition (with TWC since May 2000)
- Steve Lyons, Hurricane Expert
- Warren Madden, Professional Hurricane Hunter (with TWC since December 1996)
- Mark Mancuso, Co-Anchor, Weekend Outlook (with TWC since May 1982)
- Nicole Mitchell, Travel Analyst, Your Weather Today
- Jeff Morrow, Co-Anchor, Afternoon Outlook (with TWC since May 1986)
- Carl Parker, Co-Anchor, PM Edition (with TWC since May 1999)
- Kim Perez, Co-Anchor, First Outlook (with TWC since June 1995)
- Sharon Resultan, Co-Anchor, Evening Edition Weekend (with TWC since 1993)
- Kevin Robinson, Co-Anchor, Weekend Now (with TWC since June 2005)
- Dave Schwartz, Co-Anchor, Evening Edition (West Coast) (with TWC since June 1991)
- Marshall Seese, Co-Anchor, Your Weather Today (with TWC since 1987)
- Mike Seidel (with TWC since March 1992)
- Dennis Smith (with TWC since May 1982)
- Alexandra Steele, Co-Anchor, Evening Edition
- Bob Stokes, Co-Anchor, "PM Edition Weekend" (with TWC since June 1996)
- Heather Tesch, Co-Anchor, Your Weather Today (with TWC since January 1999)
- Dao Vu, Host, Weekend View
- Nick Walker, Co-Anchor, First Outlook (with TWC since April 1999)
Notable Past
- John Hope, (deceased; Hurricane Expert)
- Norm Sebastian, (deceased)
Slogans
- "We Take The Weather Seriously, But Not Ourselves" (1982–1986)
- "Weatherproofing America" (1984–1986)
- "You Need Us, The Weather Channel, For Everything You Do" (1986–1991)
- "Weather You Can Always Turn To" (1991–1995)
- "No Place on Earth Has Better Weather" (1996–1999)
- "Keeping You Ahead of the Storm" (1999–2001)
- "Live By It" (2001–2005)
- "Bringing Weather to Life" (2005–present)
Hurricane Slogans
September-October 2005 - The Weather Channel Hurricane Central
October 2005 - The Weather Channel Your Hurricane Authority
See also
List of Firefox extensions - see "1-Click Weather" at the top