Messages

91

OCMs & Personalities / Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go

« on: April 06, 2015, 08:05:45 PM »

Today was her last day at TWC. I have to admit I got a little choked up during her goodbye at the end of the 7pm hour... it's really sad to see her go. I'm struck by her genuine humility; she doesn't seem bitter at all, even though TWC basically dumped her. She's a true pro and I'll miss her.

92

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: VZ FiOS dropped TWC

« on: April 01, 2015, 11:11:27 PM »

Honestly, this is competition happening right before our eyes.  Before WN and AccuWeather, TWC was the only on-air weather "channel."  Now they've got competition, albeit very little as of right now since WN and AccuWeather are still very far behind TWC.  Of course, to deal with the competition it would be better for TWC to show more weather and cut long-form rather than use the pointing fingers ads and acting like children, but I guess that's just what they want to do.

I'm actually hoping that FIOS will bring back TWC and that some other providers will pick up Accuweather, so we can have some direct competition. Since no one currently has access to both networks on cable right now, there really isn't an opportunity for consumers to choose between the two, yet.

93

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: VZ FiOS dropped TWC

« on: March 30, 2015, 05:43:49 PM »

I'm going to have to side with TWC on this one. Accuweather chose not to cover a major weather event live, and then had the audacity to take shots at the NWS... not too classy. I know Accu isn't on in Oklahoma right now, but as Gawker's "The Vane" commented...

However, you would think that a brand new network that wants to take the place of an established behemoth like The Weather Channel would flex their muscles and prove to both the public and to cable/satellite companies across the country that they can carry the torch during a major weather event. What better way to sell your channel to the masses than show that, even during a rapidly unfolding severe weather outbreak in Oklahoma, you've got this, and you can compete with the blue behemoth in Atlanta?

94

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: VZ FiOS dropped TWC

« on: March 25, 2015, 10:21:09 PM »

Anyone know what Accuweather has been doing tonight? Are they covering the severe storms and tornadoes live like TWC? If not, this could be a turning point for TWC and Verizon.

95

Programming and Graphics / Re: Weekend Recharge

« on: March 22, 2015, 10:56:46 AM »

Bettes is in for Paul Goodloe. Crazy to see Mike and Maria hosting an AM show again, complete with the Morning Rush music.

96

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: March 20, 2015, 06:31:31 PM »

Did anyone see this before any of the locals?

This press release from TWC called "Original Programming on The Weather Channel Registers Double Digit Increases" talks more about the "meteoric growth" of primetime programming. Soooo, longform isn't going anywhere.

http://www.theweathercompany.com/newsroom/2015/01/29/original-programming-weather-channel-registers-double-digit-increases

97

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Live Show hosted by Mike Bettes

« on: March 19, 2015, 10:25:47 PM »

Wasn't this supposed to debut in March? I did some poking around and I wasn't able to find any information on this new show besides that press release from January. From what I've seen on Mike's Twitter and FB, it seems like he has been handling midday expert desk duties for a couple of weeks. I wonder when they're going to shift him to evenings (Carl Parker is usually in The Lab during that time.) Since Kim is the current evening co-anchor and she is leaving in early April, maybe Mike's show will start then.

98

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Kelly Cass and Nick Walker moved from OCM to Contributor Role

« on: March 19, 2015, 10:15:54 PM »

Here's Kelly and Jeff at WKRN, via @kellycass.

99

Programming and Graphics / Re: Weekend Recharge

« on: March 14, 2015, 11:42:04 AM »

I'd say the show is decent so far. They're using the morning rush music, and the intro sequences and graphics look really nice. Paul and Maria are sitting at a new desk in front of the 4x4 video wall near the AMHQ area. I don't really like the set-up too much; it looks kind of cheap. It's pretty weather-focused, although Maria did a "Momerology" segment with her kids about Pi day. The "seven day stretch" is pretty interesting; they go through the seven day forecast in-depth and at one point they even tossed to a NECN meteorlogist who gave a quick forecast for New England. Paul and Maria have decent chemistry, and I'm sure they'll get better with time.

100

Programming and Graphics / Re: Weekend Recharge

« on: March 12, 2015, 07:32:36 PM »

It's kind of a strange name... I'm interested to see how much of the show will be weather and how much will be other feature segments. Does it start this weekend? I wonder if they'll start running promos for it, or do they only do that for Sam and Jim?

101

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: March 04, 2015, 07:37:21 PM »

I came across this article about new weather maps being rolled on out on NBC News programs and msnbc. Interestingly, they no longer include the TWC logo. Hmmmmm...
http://www.newscaststudio.com/2015/03/04/nightly-gets-its-own-weather-maps/

102

OCMs & Personalities / Re: OCM Kim Cunningham let go

« on: March 03, 2015, 07:00:18 PM »

Too bad. Not surprising though, given what they've been doing with their employees lately. I bet she'll join the large group of TWC freelancers.

103

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: February 27, 2015, 07:57:25 PM »

Some news on TWC's ratings this month... AMHQ is doing better than ever, live programs are up 20% since this time last year, long form is up 47%. TWC's highest rated daytime program is the weekend 9-12 slot, so it's easy to see why they want to move Maria there (when is that going to happen?)

http://www.multichannel.com/news/news-articles/winter-storms-drive-weather-channel-ratings/388442

104

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Danielle Banks

« on: February 15, 2015, 12:09:52 AM »

Danielle is back! She's doing winter storm coverage for the overnight hours right now with Ray Stagich.

Awesome! When Danielle came on I was like... "wait, I thought she left"? Hopefully she's permanently back. Maybe the job she went for didn't work out?

I don't know... Her Twitter page still says she works at "Car Biz Today," so she's probably one of TWC's many freelance OCMs that are called in randomly.

105

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Danielle Banks

« on: February 15, 2015, 12:00:51 AM »

Danielle is back! She's doing winter storm coverage for the overnight hours right now with Ray Stagich.