Media companies are doing this type of thing all the time. Evidently they feel the need to show off with graphics such as this. I get the feeling that companies think that simply compositing a forecaster on top of a 2D map makes the station seem somehow dated, like they're trapped in a pre-2000 way of doing things. That such a setup is the more efficient way to convey the information is irrelevant. "Ooh, look how high tech we are. We have a virtual set (or in some cases, a 30-foot wide plasmascreen) and can show you our map from any angle. We can also give you 3D representations of the storms and fly under them, pan around, and enhance them with really cool RGB truecolor animated icons. Say what? Hard to read? But... look how high tech we are!"
