Messages

46

Local Forecast / Re: Traffic on LDL

« on: July 27, 2014, 11:45:25 AM »

Since I remember seeing a bunch of iHeartRadio promos recently on TWC, I wonder if perhaps the new traffic vendor is Total Traffic. Both are products of Clear Channel, and perhaps the two sides worked out a trade deal - you get our data. we get some ad time.

47

Local Forecast / Re: Traffic on LDL

« on: July 24, 2014, 01:53:39 PM »

Seeing them in New Orleans on SD.  Can't check HD at the moment.

Remember when TWC dropped things like traffic from the LDL because people wanted only weather down there? Wonder what else will come back now.

48

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Show: "WXGeeks"

« on: July 15, 2014, 07:02:30 PM »

Sounds more like The Weather Channel trying their hand at a Sunday morning policy show like Meet The Press, Face The Nation and so on.

Could be interesting.

49

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Morning Show: "AMHQ with Sam Champion"

« on: July 15, 2014, 06:58:47 PM »

173,000 viewers isn't a smash hit, but it's not terrible and it's also a major improvement over 3 months ago in April (go back 2 pages) when it was on average 39,000. It's basically quadrupled it's ratings in a 3 month time span. Just trying to put a positive spin on it I guess.

Also aren't morning cable news shows generally exceptionally low in viewership in comparison to broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS)? I know I've read about shows like "Morning Joe" for example have ratings similar to this before.

Even if it's showing ratings growth, here is the key question: Is it doing better than what was on before, a show that easily cost you less than AMHQ? If the answer is no, then you can forget charging more for spots within the show, and then you're talking about not making the money you thought you would hiring Champion away from GMA.  And that's not good.

50

Local Forecast / Re: What exactly makes the Intellistar 2 Jr cheaper than the original Intellistar?

« on: June 21, 2014, 06:28:58 PM »

I imagine because it's a newer product, it's cheaper than an original Intellistar.

I'd also guess that if your Intellistar crapped out for whatever reason and couldn't be fixed, an IS2 Jr. would be its replacement, not another Intellistar.

51

Local Forecast / Re: 4000/XL/Jr. - The End Is Near

« on: May 08, 2014, 07:00:20 PM »

I can confirm I've independently verified this through a TWC employee.

You can confirm what? That it's true or not true? If it's true, who's paying for it and is there a press release? Seems like pretty big news.

I don't know why you would expect a press release on this.  It's an internal matter between TWC and it's customers with units about to be officially retired.  The general public has no idea what an analogue feed is.

As for your other question on who's paying for it - how many of these legacy units are still kicking?  It has to be a low number, and perhaps TWC is just sending them a replacement unit or offering very attractive terms to get the legacys replaced.

52

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: DirecTV Dropping TWC

« on: April 08, 2014, 04:28:41 PM »

A deal has been struck.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/weather-channel-returns-directv-183200850.html

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/weather-channel-to-return-to-directv_b220756

"WSJ reports the Weather Channel has also agreed to increase the airtime it gives to weather-related news"

It looks like the WCL hours that were cut in November may return.

Far more likely that quote is in reference to the WCL hours already restored during the afternoon/early evening.

Weekdays, to me, means something different than weeknights.

53

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: April 04, 2014, 10:27:04 AM »

TWC is in Storm Alert and is live all night.

7pm-11pm, they used the main studio
Since 11pm, they are using Studio 1C.

It looks like they are using different studios for different shifts/shows now. Previously, all shows (outside of WUWA) used the Main HD Studio.

Looks like they move to 1C when there's a shift change, so the next crew can come in and rehearse.

My guess is the move to 1C would allow AMHQ to rehearse as normal in the main studio.

54

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: April 02, 2014, 10:29:17 AM »

Cox New Orleans IS2 (sorry, don't know the ID) also has the scrolling time/temp now.

55

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: April 01, 2014, 03:02:47 PM »

Didn't it always do this? I thought I remember seeing a while back of it showing the time and scroll to the temperature?

It was shown in the teaser video before the launch of the new graphics that it would, but it didn't go into effect until today.

It's also active on the Cox IS in New Orleans.

56

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Morning Show: "AMHQ with Sam Champion"

« on: March 19, 2014, 05:17:08 PM »

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/sam-champions-amhq-debut-ratings_b217831

“AMHQ” drew 207,000 total viewers and 64,000 A25-54 demo viewers from 7am-10amET, down -12% in viewers and down -14% in the demo from the Weather Channel’s prior four-week average in the timeslot.

That's to be expected - any change like this is going to cause a drop in ratings as you get viewer turnover from people dropping out.  The question for TWC is do they get anyone to come back or attract new viewers to replace the ones lost.

Having watched a few segments over two days, while growing pains and working out a flow for a new show will take some time (rehearsal can only do so much), the big red flag to me is that Champion does not appear to be very comfortable being the main guy.  The focus is all on him and he seems very nervous. (He kept mentioning that his over-talking was causing them to run late - hey, maybe if you didn't keep mentioning that, you wouldn't be late!)  If that doesn't change, this show is screwed.

As an aside, it's crazy to me that you unveil a brand new on-air look built around flat colors and then roll out a show with chrome elements that stick out like a sore thumb.

Oh, there is one good thing: it's a really nice set.  Looks pretty versatile too.  Wonder if they'll use it for occasional shots on WCL whenever that show moves back into the main studio.

EDIT: I still think it's a little too early to invoke ratings.  However, if you're interested, Day 2 of AMHQ lost 10% of its audience from Day 1.  No matter the weather, someone is likely starting to sweat a bit in Atlanta.

57

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 18, 2013, 06:37:12 PM »

The "Hello" screen has to go.  It's a nice idea, but unless they update them regularly, they'll get old very quickly. They also stick out during severe weather coverage like yesterday, or if the message goes against the current conditions/forecast.

Also - and this is purely a pet peeve - addressing a city like it's a person drives me up a wall.

58

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 16, 2013, 10:06:12 PM »

Strange how some people are getting a transparent LDL during programming, here I'm getting the blue one.

SD gets the blue bar, HD is transparent.

59

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 13, 2013, 05:53:27 PM »

On the SD feed last night WATT was on during long form the entire time.

I think he's talking about the national/satellite feed. which has just the blank grey bar the transparent LDL is cueing over during long form.

60

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 10:15:34 PM »

I don't know if this is fixable, but the local IS LDL doesn't quite line up with the national LDL, at least in SD.  This was a problem with the previous look too, the top of the national LDL always peeked out over the local LDL.