Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Happy Birthday Andrea (WXAndrea)!!!

« on: February 10, 2010, 12:42:39 AM »

I'm so sorry - I've been super busy and haven't been able to stop by this topic until now!

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for the birthday wishes!  You guys are awesome!  And TWCZach -- you're too sweet for starting this thread!  I really appreciate it & all of the replies! Definitely made me smile!   

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Programming and Graphics / Re: Weather Channel To Share With NBC Affiliates

« on: January 18, 2010, 07:59:37 PM »

^ ^ I don't think they're only allowed to get video from just NBC affiliates.  They tend to take more live looks (weather cams) from NBC affils, but I think the video can come from all over.  As long as it's not embargoed to them and they get it via another news service.  But, they have to be a part of that service, as well as the other station they're "cherry picking" from.  (Example: NNS is a news service.  If TWC is a member, they can use video from ANY other station that's also a member of NNS, no matter its affiliation.)  I'm not explaining this very well, so I hope that makes sense...

Also, I work for an NBC affiliate, and during the Florida Freeze, we actually used a good deal of video from them.  Kind of sad, though, because I work in Florida...

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OCMs & Personalities / Re: New OCM---Chris Warren

« on: January 18, 2010, 07:03:45 PM »

Chris Warren is a great field reporter.  He seems to bring a lot of fun with his live shots.

He is decent in the field. A lot more character than when in the studio

That's probably because of all the adrenaline live reporters get when they're out in the field.  Especially in cases of severe weather.

As for him being "shy" in studio, that'll go away when he gets more in tune with everyone else's on-air personality.  I know he's been at TWC for a few months now, but he's only just started working (mainly) on Weather Center.  He'll get a better feel for what the "tempo" is like.

At least that's how I feel when I produce newscasts.  I'm more shy and reserved when I start out at a new place, trying to get a feel for what everyone's like and what direction the show is going in.  Once that happens, I become more confident in myself and I step out of my shell and try new things.  I think that'll happen for him.  (Just my opinion, lol!)

ETA:  I actually think he's very good.

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OCMs & Personalities / Re: Kevin Robinson leaving TWC

« on: December 09, 2009, 05:13:50 PM »

Good for him!  A chief meteorologist job is a sweet gig.  Best of luck to him!  (Don't know much about the station where he's going, but I understand that Cincy is a good market.)

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Programming and Graphics / Re: Weather Channel To Share With NBC Affiliates

« on: December 02, 2009, 03:01:43 PM »

^ ^ Makes sense.  I can't think they weren't getting video from non O&O affiliates beforehand, though.  I once worked for a FOX O&O, and while we could only get video and sound from IPUMP, we could still use a source called NNS to get video from other NNS affilates.  That means, if it was an NBC station involved with NNS, we could still use/get their video.  I'd be surprised if NBC was ONLY able to use O&O stuff until now.

Either way, I think this will help them tremendously.

ETA:  Maybe non-NBC O&O affiliates couldn't use TWC video?

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Programming and Graphics / Re: Wake Up With Al

« on: November 30, 2009, 07:11:32 PM »

I thought it was so funny how Mike held his script up to the camera on WUWA this morning

Anyway, I don't necessarily mind it either, Andrea (nice to meet you, btw  ). I have to leave for school at 7 AM ET, and I always get ready before 6 so that I can watch WUWA before going off to school. I also like how many of the people work well with each other (can't remember the names of the personalities that normally host the MSNBC segments).

Nice to meet you, too!   

Another thing I wanted to add about WUWA.  The thing I don't like is that Al's in NY and Stephanie's in Atlanta.  I don't like the fact they put them in a 2-box, when they talk to each other.  There's no real connection.  It doesn't seem personable to me.  I understand they can't have them in the same studios, so move someone.  It's different if you use a 2-box with someone out in the field.  But, to use it the entire time, for an hour show, it's a little odd...

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Programming and Graphics / Re: Wake Up With Al

« on: November 27, 2009, 07:39:43 PM »

Someone on that Topix forum mentioned the fact they didn't like the MSNBC updates.  Adding, if they wanted to watch MSNBC, they'd be watching MSNBC.

As a news producer, myself, I have to say, I like the MSNBC updates.  I understand it's The WEATHER Channel.  But, at the same time, you could say that about local news, and that if people wanted to see what the weather was going to be like, they'd watch TWC.  The MSNBC updates aren't long and drawn out.  There seem to be three or four 15- to 20-second VOs.  Why do people find that such an issue?  I think it's important.  Especially in the morning.

Either way, I can't say I really watch WUWA.  But I'm not really up at that time, either.  I think it's really a way for them to merge TWC with NBC coverage.  Probably the same reason they have Jim Cantore, Jeff Morrow and others covering big weather events do live shots for the network.

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Everything Else TWC / Re: Blooper Thread

« on: November 18, 2009, 07:21:59 PM »

I never knew Arizona's abbreviation changed to AR (and yes, I know for sure this is the Flagstaff in AZ)

Wow! You were 2 steps quicker than me! I just came in to post something about this.  And, having just moved from Phoenix, I do know they were talking about Flagstaff, AZ.

But, I can't say too much about the "oops!"  I'm a television news producer, myself, and I'm sure I've made similar mistakes in my tenure.  But, I think having lived in AZ, that certainly caught my eye.

Great piece, though!

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OCMs & Personalities / Re: New OCM---Chris Warren

« on: November 11, 2009, 01:27:54 PM »

You crack me up, Ana!   
I was kind of surprised their live truck essentially got stuck in the flood waters, and they had to bow out of a couple of lives to fix the prob.  Better safe than sorry, though!

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TWC Today News / Re: Upgrade Complete!!

« on: November 09, 2009, 05:22:18 PM »

Site looks great!  Really sharp!   

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Everything Else TWC / Ray Leaving Sunrise Weather?

« on: November 07, 2009, 06:26:52 PM »

^ ^ Yeah, but you have a lot of TWC OCMs that have personality.  I think it'd be odd if they kept the wallflowers.  I've not heard anything about Ray.

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Everything Else TWC / Re: Bring Back Dave Schwartz Website

« on: November 07, 2009, 06:24:31 PM »

I checked CBS Atlanta's website, and he's no longer with them.  Is this a recent thing?  Do we know why he left?

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Programming and Graphics / Re: The Weather Channel adds a movie night

« on: November 05, 2009, 11:19:07 PM »

Who's ready for "March of The Penguins"?
They havent said anything yet about this Friday's movie...Maybe they'll start the advertizing tomorrow or later on...

The movie by itself is really good according to critics, and it won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.  I don't know how much the commentary on TWC will help it.

It's actually a great movie.  I cried... But, then again, all animal movies make me cry.  I'd actually be interested to hear what TWC has to say about the weather/conditions in the Antarctic.

I must confess, I did not watch the Perfect Storm.

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OCMs & Personalities / Re: Weather Center with Jim, Alexandra, and Kevin

« on: November 05, 2009, 10:59:01 PM »

So Weather Center is going wild....again. Sea World returns once again.
I mean, how many times have they shown up on WC (or previously when A&B existed)???

It's really sad i think its like the 3rd time they visited TWC, but at this rate TWC is going nowhere fast so i guess anything can happen.

We might even see the Dog Whisperer next, Who knows.

Yeah, but this time, I think there's validity to having the Sea World and Busch Gardens folks on.  TWC's showing "March of the Penguins" Friday night.  Granted, they haven't yet had the flightless birds on, but still.  Maybe I'm speaking from a news producer stand point, and not really a viewer's?  But, even as a viewer I like that kind of nature/wildlife stuff.

ETA an answer to Ryan's question:
Alexandra is probably on vacation all week.  And, I think they said Kevin was going to Busch Gardens or something for March of the Penguins. Maybe Cantore's on assignment?

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Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: November 04, 2009, 05:33:22 PM »

I love how all of the sudden, a Tropical Depression developing is now "breaking news"

Branding things "breaking news" or "developing" in the news business makes it sound more urgent!  I don't always agree with it, because I think some media outlets (cough-NancyGrace-cough) abuse the branding.     But, I could see how TWC could call the TD forming "breaking news."  It's "new" and it's weather-related.  Now, it wouldn't be breaking news on the local level...