TWC Today Forums
Present - The Weather Channel 2000 => Programming and Graphics => Topic started by: WxFanMatt on April 20, 2012, 09:29:44 PM
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You'd be surprised to find what the weather channel has planned to do over the next few weeks/months/years if you read the feedback and suggestions. I was reading suggestions for the programming and someone asked if the weather channel would make a new SD intellistar. One of the directors of programming wrote:
"Thanks for your suggestion Javier, we are working on improvments to the SD Local on the 8’s. Please look for fresh graphics and sounds later this year and a completely new experience in 2013."
Don't know if this means they will have new graphics for the intellistar or for the entire channel (or both), but either way, I don't know if I should be excited or not (considering their graphics haven't been the best lately...). Also, I wanted to mention that this was under the "planned" suggestions, so this isn't just any old idea being considered.
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That's probably our Javier, LOL. Leave it to him.
Anyway...a totally new experience in 2013? Curious to know what that means. Care to provide a link as to where you found this information?
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Sure
http://feedback.weather.com/forums/131825-tv/suggestions/2542270-please-twc-make-a-brand-new-version-of-sd-intell (http://feedback.weather.com/forums/131825-tv/suggestions/2542270-please-twc-make-a-brand-new-version-of-sd-intell)
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Completely new experience... could it be what I have been thinking what would happen... The Weather Channel rebranding as TWC? :thinking:
Also in reference to "new sounds," I hope this doesn't mean Jim doing voiceovers. He can NOT narrate without sounding like Paul from NOAA weather radio. :rolleyes: For god sake hire someone who specializes in voiceovers. <_<
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That's probably our Javier, LOL. Leave it to him.
Yep, that is the one we know from Pennsylvania :yes:
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I did not even see this topic until I posted something about a new star platform. Didn't someone confirm a new star would beta test at around June? Can't seem to the find the post at the moment
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Completely new experience... could it be what I have been thinking what would happen... The Weather Channel rebranding as TWC? :thinking:
Just out of curiosity, Mike, what lead you to this assumption? I actually think it's a very interesting thought. I mean, with all these abbreviations for channels, now, I guess this wouldn't be too far from the norm. Just hope people would know what it stands for and wouldn't get it confused with Time Warner Cable or anything like that. :P
And I'll just be honest, I think TWC has the potential to do a complete facelift, with a new logo and everything, but that is probably taking it too far. "Completely new experience" could be just a new WeatherSTAR, or it really could be a completely new experience. We'll just have to wait and see. Though TWC hasn't unveiled some of the greatest things in the past few years, I'm very excited to see what this all means, even if it is just new L3rds or something.
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I predicted the whole TWC abbreviation thing years ago. Watch, it's gonna happen I tells ya!(http://nohomers.net/images/smilies/oldman.gif) :P
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Just hope people would know what it stands for and wouldn't get it confused with Time Warner Cable or anything like that. :P
I think Time Warner Cable needs to change their name and initials. After all, I believe they stole those initials from The Weather Channel :bleh:
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It's certainly possible. Look what happened to Headline News...
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What do they mean by 'fresh sounds'? New lf music?
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What do they mean by 'fresh sounds'? New lf music?
I think the sounds might be new LF Transitions.
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I have a very bad feeling that a new logo will be introduced as well. Perhaps something similar to the current TWC mobile logo. I hope I'm wrong, though...
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What do they mean by 'fresh sounds'? New lf music?
Probably new weather sounds.
I have a very bad feeling that a new logo will be introduced as well. Perhaps something similar to the current TWC mobile logo. I hope I'm wrong, though...
Why in the world would they introduce a new logo? They had one created 6 years ago. And considering the amount of money they wasted on it... :thinking:
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Since when have they cared about wasting money as of late? :P Especially if they're any suggestions from management in NBC, why do you think they filed for bankruptcy a couple of years ago?
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What do they mean by 'fresh sounds'? New lf music?
Probably new weather sounds.
Remember how the LF had the rain and thunder sounds during the 36/48 hr forecast? I wonder if they'll start that up again...
I have a very bad feeling that a new logo will be introduced as well. Perhaps something similar to the current TWC mobile logo. I hope I'm wrong, though...
It wouldn't be that bad if the logo wasn't completely different, especially if it was just a minor color or text change
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From what I heard in the past the plan was to redo the SD forecasts to look like the HD version but I can't confirm if thats still the plan or if that ever was their intent. Personally I think its a safe bet to see the SD local forecast updated to reflect the format of the HD feed. How long that takes will remain to be seen
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From what I heard in the past the plan was to redo the SD forecasts to look like the HD version but I can't confirm if thats still the plan or if that ever was their intent. Personally I think its a safe bet to see the SD local forecast updated to reflect the format of the HD feed. How long that takes will remain to be seen
I hope they scrapped that plan and went back to the drawing board. I don't think the SD IS would look right having those graphics. :no:
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From what I heard in the past the plan was to redo the SD forecasts to look like the HD version but I can't confirm if thats still the plan or if that ever was their intent. Personally I think its a safe bet to see the SD local forecast updated to reflect the format of the HD feed. How long that takes will remain to be seen
I can't see that happening unless they make a new platform, it's without a doubt not feasible on a computer with 9-10 year old technology. The intellistar is already being pushed to its limits with the LDL.
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Considering how old the Intellistar is, I think it's due for a replacement. The Weather Channel has never gone so long without introducing a new Star before. Of course, the Intellistar is also the most versatile and upgradable system yet introduced (excluding the miracles The Weather Network in Canada was able to do with the 4000 compared to the primitive look of its American setup).
On the other hand, just how long is American television in general going to accommodate separate SD and HD feeds? In most European countries, for example, if you watch digital television downgraded on an analogue set, you simply have to live with letterboxing and the knowledge that you're using outdated and obsolete technology. However, most European countries are quite small and such changes can be made more quickly and more easily than in the United States.
Would it behoove The Weather Channel to spend the time, money, and resources on developing a new SD Star without the knowledge of just how long SD will be accommodated to the point that it is? The changeover happened almost 3 years ago already. Accommodations in most of Europe ended long ago. How long will the United States keep doing this? In other words, if, say, separate SD feeds will end in 2015 (for example), it hardly seems worth it for The Weather Channel to spend all that money to develop a new system that will only last a couple of years.
That said, the Intellistar 2 seems like a woeful waste of money, too, considering how brief the local forecast segments have become (no real flavors on that - just the same screens over and over, and occasionally the marine forecast will pop up). The L-bar was a lot better, in my opinion, when it was first experimented with many years ago (and the HD L-bar is a shameful waste of space). And if the LDL is going to be relied upon as a major source of local weather information (and then only for Intellistar viewers!), they should at least bring back the larger LDL from time to time, since it has a lot more information than the small LDL - especially on the SD Intellistar.
</rant> I'm tired now.
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All great points Eric, I wonder how much longer we'ere going to have to deal with SD technology. We need to get with the times already. :hammer:
I can't see that happening unless they make a new platform, it's without a doubt not feasible on a computer with 9-10 year old technology. The intellistar is already being pushed to its limits with the LDL.
Instead of being one step ahead, they're choosing to be on par which is only going to send them several steps behind in the long run.
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I do agree with Eric, TWC should bring back the 33% LDL so more weather info could be shown on screen instead of the Limited info on the 16% LDL.
I also have to agree that yes the IS2 does seem to be a waste of money because not everyone will be able to see it on their cable systems.
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All great points Eric, I wonder how much longer we're going to have to deal with SD technology.
While I agree that TWC shouldn't waste money on a new SD STAR, I don't agree that we should all be forced to upgrade to HD. My TV broke during a move in November, so I was forced to buy a HD TV. While it's definitely better than the one I had before, I hate how a lot of my DVDs look bad when I play them b/c they're not HD. I guess I have to buy them again in Blue-ray format? :club: No thank you! And who the heck cares what Europe's doing? If I were to look to a country for guidance on something, I wouldn't choose one that gave us two world wars, socialism, and the Beatles. :thumbdown:
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All great points Eric, I wonder how much longer we're going to have to deal with SD technology.
While I agree that TWC shouldn't waste money on a new SD STAR, I don't agree that we should all be forced to upgrade to HD. My TV broke during a move in November, so I was forced to buy a HD TV. While it's definitely better than the one I had before, I hate how a lot of my DVDs look bad when I play them b/c they're not HD. I guess I have to buy them again in Blue-ray format? :club: No thank you! And who the heck cares what Europe's doing? If I were to look to a country for guidance on something, I wouldn't choose one that gave us two world wars, socialism, and the Beatles. :thumbdown:
Some movies are going to look bad in HD regardless because they weren't meant for HD, no matter how much they keep trying to restore and remaster them. :no: Although I do understand not wanting to feel forced or pressured into having HDTVs, I just don't see the need of having SDTV anymore except to maybe have stored around as a backup in case something happens to your HDTV. I'm probably being a little bias towards the whole HD technology because since I got my first HDTV in August 2009 (which was a replacement for my SDTV) I never looked back and I would never want another SDTV for permanent use, only as a temporary backup at best.
Of course, if this was still 5 or so years ago, my opinions would be the opposite since there wasn't as much variety in shows/channels producing and broadcasting in HD so there wouldn't be a need to have an HDTV unless you just desired to have one.
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If there were to be any change to the logo, I'd wager it would be the addition of a NBC peacock, nothing more.
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If there were to be any change to the logo, I'd wager it would be the addition of a NBC peacock, nothing more.
I doubt that. Other NBC-owned networks, such as Bravo, don't have the peacock. It appears usually only when "NBC" is actually part of the network's name, such as "NBC Sports" or "Shop NBC."
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I'd put money down if they called it the NBC Weather Station. :bleh:
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If there were to be any change to the logo, I'd wager it would be the addition of a NBC peacock, nothing more.
I doubt that. Other NBC-owned networks, such as Bravo, don't have the peacock. It appears usually only when "NBC" is actually part of the network's name, such as "NBC Sports" or "Shop NBC."
The difference in this case and something like Bravo is that NBC News has been heavily integrated into TWC and vice versa since being bought by the peacock, so that's why I could see them adding it to the logo.
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I mean, guys, the picture I have attached is something I always imagined TWC doing with their logo (not sure what the right font for it is, but you get the point). I know it's likely never, ever going to happen, and I hope I am not going to get greatly criticized for just throwing the idea out there, because I know there are certainly other NBC Universal stations do not use the peacock in any way. It just seems like TWC ties itself very closely to NBC (and TWC ends in a "C" :P).
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I'd like to see the SD feed (which I believe still has a place in the world for now) displayed in a manner like FNC's SD channel-letterboxed. It'd make graphics presentation a heck of a lot easier.
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I'd put money down if they called it the NBC Weather Station. :bleh:
I was literatly just thinking of that... Or they could have just made it the new NBC weather plus. Just thinking about it makes me sick
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From what I heard in the past the plan was to redo the SD forecasts to look like the HD version but I can't confirm if thats still the plan or if that ever was their intent. Personally I think its a safe bet to see the SD local forecast updated to reflect the format of the HD feed. How long that takes will remain to be seen
I hope they scrapped that plan and went back to the drawing board. I don't think the SD IS would look right having those graphics. :no:
More of a matter of the platform it was built on and getting similar devices using the same type of software.
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I mean, guys, the picture I have attached is something I always imagined TWC doing with their logo (not sure what the right font for it is, but you get the point). I know it's likely never, ever going to happen, and I hope I am not going to get greatly criticized for just throwing the idea out there, because I know there are certainly other NBC Universal stations do not use the peacock in any way. It just seems like TWC ties itself very closely to NBC (and TWC ends in a "C" :P).
Oh God, don't give them any ideas.
:bleh:
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Why in the world would they introduce a new logo? They had one created 6 years ago. And considering the amount of money they wasted on it... :thinking:
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A new logo isn't out of the question. I mean some channels change there logos just a few years apart from each other.
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Why in the world would they introduce a new logo? They had one created 6 years ago. And considering the amount of money they wasted on it... :thinking:
A new logo isn't out of the question. I mean some channels change there logos just a few years apart from each other.
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I am going to go out on a limb and say with near certainty that they probably will not introduce a new logo. Look at all the aggressive branding work they're doing with the current logo-especially on the updated weather.com. It wouldn't make sense, in my opinion, to use it as a key design element in something, only to can it later this year.
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IMO, a change in logo is possible. Changing to simply "TWC"? No way. Those three words are some of the most recognizable in broadcasting history and helped bring the network to where it is today. No way they get rid of that.
And you can forget seeing NBC or its peacock becoming part of that logo. Have yall forgotten that Comcast is in charge now? They have already directed the NBC-owned local stations to have a local presence/identity again like they did before NBC screwed things up back in the late 90s/early 2000s, so don't worry about NBC molding TWC any further.
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IMO, a change in logo is possible. Changing to simply "TWC"? No way. Those three words are some of the most recognizable in broadcasting history and helped bring the network to where it is today. No way they get rid of that.
And you can forget seeing NBC or its peacock becoming part of that logo. Have yall forgotten that Comcast is in charge now? They have already directed the NBC-owned local stations to have a local presence/identity again like they did before NBC screwed things up back in the late 90s/early 2000s, so don't worry about NBC molding TWC any further.
It is possible for them to abbreviate the name to TWC. They will change and do whatever they want to the network they don't care about the past history of the channel.
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What does them abbreviating the name have to do with the history of the network?
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What does them abbreviating the name have to do with the history of the network?
They already have no respect for the history or purpose of the channel (other than lip-service, really), so changing the name or abbreviating it will only reflect that. Besides, most of the time The Weather Channel hardly focuses on real weather anymore, anyway.
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Most channels abbreviate their name when they depart from their original format and enter into more general interest programming. Examples include The Learning Channel changing to TLC, Game Show Network changing to GSN, and Headline News changing to HLN.
With TWC launching even more hours of non-weather-related long form programming later in the year, it might make sense to drop "weather" from the channel name as the channel continues to become more and more like every other channel on cable.
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The problem with just going with TWC is it's also short for Time Warner Cable.
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The problem with just going with TWC is it also short for Time Warner Cable.
That would be one valid reason to go against a logo change like that.
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The problem with just going with TWC is it's also short for Time Warner Cable.
Or better yet Time Warner Cable needs to change their name to avoid confusion with The Weather Channel. Time Warner Cable stole those initials from The Weather Channel IMO :bleh:
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My suggestion: "All the icons on TV, website, and apps, should have the same icons for weather conditions."
Response: "We agree with your suggestion. This is something that we have begun to work on but will take time before all the icons have been updated. Thanks for your recommendation! Steve Windham Director, Local Programming, The Weather Channel"