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Present - The Weather Channel 2000 => Everything Else TWC => Topic started by: lfmusiclover on July 06, 2008, 04:10:24 PM

Title: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 06, 2008, 04:10:24 PM
According to Reuters the sale of TWC to NBC is official!

http://www.reuters.com/article/mergersNews/idUSN0244278120080706 (http://www.reuters.com/article/mergersNews/idUSN0244278120080706)
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: iPod on July 06, 2008, 04:12:39 PM
:welcome: From Foe to Friend, WX+ welcomes TWC! :hug2:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Localonthe8s on July 06, 2008, 04:23:04 PM
So what changes could we expect with TWC now that NBC has bought them?
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 06, 2008, 04:36:18 PM
Vic, that's a question we really can't answer. We can speculate till the cows come home, but none of us can really began to say for sure what changes we could see.

Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 06, 2008, 04:48:53 PM
You don't have to keep telling us to go to your thread. In fact, the rules strictly prohibit soliciting people to go to or reply to your thread. We aren't illiterate.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Localonthe8s on July 06, 2008, 04:49:31 PM
I found another article here disclosing about how nbc finds a "logical fit" with TWC
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/06/financial/f121938D96.DTL&feed=rss.business
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: iPod on July 06, 2008, 04:53:28 PM
Cool
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Mike M on July 06, 2008, 05:19:16 PM
So what changes could we expect with TWC now that NBC has bought them?
Weatherscan, one of my favorite channels, will likely be gone, and they'll probably get rid of the WeatherStars since NBC does not know how to operate them.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 06, 2008, 05:22:53 PM
So what changes could we expect with TWC now that NBC has bought them?
Weatherscan, one of my favorite channels, will likely be gone, and they'll probably get rid of the WeatherStars since NBC does not know how to operate them.

Why would WxScan go anywhere? And what does NBC have to do with running the WxStars? The people run the STAR's, not the company. And unless they do some major firing that won't be a problem.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: TWCToday on July 06, 2008, 07:45:04 PM
I think my biggest concern would be a merge between the Weather Plus and Star/Scan systems. NBC has also been known for sticking their branding on everything as well. Landmark is cutting some jobs here in Norfolk and thinking about selling our newspaper, the Virginia Pilot.  <_< Oh well, they say change is good.  :hmm:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: tpirfan28 on July 06, 2008, 09:25:27 PM
It was big enough to warrant being on my Wii's News Channel....twice!
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: TheRolyPoly on July 06, 2008, 09:34:01 PM
It says on wikipedia that NBC Universal manages the station, but it also says that Bain Capital and The Blackstone Group actually owns the station.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Spring Rubber on July 06, 2008, 09:52:43 PM
Wow, this story also made it on the end of Leo Laporte's This WEEK in TECH podcast when they talked about how CBS chose to buy CNET instead of TWC. They were a bit too critical of TWC, IMO. That still won't stop me from loving Leo and the gang, though. :P
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 06, 2008, 09:53:49 PM
It says on wikipedia that NBC Universal manages the station, but it also says that Bain Capital and The Blackstone Group actually owns the station.

Its a joint venture between all three.

Interesting you mention Leo Laporte Steve. I used to love watching his shows on techTV/ZDTV.  :twothumbs:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Spring Rubber on July 06, 2008, 09:56:01 PM
Yeah, since the TV industry isn't interested in doing tech shows anymore, he's doing it on his own though the power of the Internet at http://twitlive.tv/

I'm addicted to it, to be honest. :P
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: beanboy89 on July 06, 2008, 11:18:46 PM
Interesting you mention Leo Laporte Steve. I used to love watching his shows on techTV/ZDTV.  :twothumbs:
Same here. ZDTV and then TechTV was one of my favorite channels, right behind TWC. The day Comcast bought them out and threw G4 branding everywhere the channel went right downhill. I certainly the same doesn't happen with TWC and NBC.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Spring Rubber on July 06, 2008, 11:21:04 PM
TWC has already been doing stuff of its own to go downhill. :P
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Stephen on July 06, 2008, 11:22:39 PM
TWC has already been doing stuff of its own to go downhill. :P
Yeah, that's bad enough. :lol:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Mike M on July 06, 2008, 11:31:21 PM
TWC has already been doing stuff of its own to go downhill. :P
Indeed. If it only gets worse it won't bother me much.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: beanboy89 on July 07, 2008, 12:22:51 AM
I found another article here disclosing about how nbc finds a "logical fit" with TWC
[url]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/07/06/financial/f121938D96.DTL&feed=rss.business[/url]


After reading that article, this paragraph makes me feel a bit better:

Quote
NBC and Landmark said in a statement that The Weather Channel would be operated as a separate entity out of its base in Atlanta. They said they expected the transaction to close by year-end, pending regulatory approvals.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Jtaylor1 on July 07, 2008, 01:07:05 AM
For one thing, NBC Universal will likely have our weatherstar videos removed and our YouTube accounts terminated, since they now have TWC.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Tyler on July 07, 2008, 01:08:10 AM
For all of those who have been biting your nails (and toe nails) over the past few months:

(via NYTimes): "Under the terms of the deal, the Weather Channel will be run as an independent operation, rather than being merged into NBC’s own meteorological offering, NBC Weather Plus. Built as a competitor to the Weather Channel, Weather Plus has long been seen as an also-ran, with fewer viewers and generally higher placement on the channel dial."

EDIT
: Billy clearly posted something similar above. Damn him. :P
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Jtaylor1 on July 07, 2008, 01:13:21 AM
Interesting you mention Leo Laporte Steve. I used to love watching his shows on techTV/ZDTV.  :twothumbs:
Same here. ZDTV and then TechTV was one of my favorite channels, right behind TWC. The day Comcast bought them out and threw G4 branding everywhere the channel went right downhill. I certainly the same doesn't happen with TWC and NBC.

Before ZDTV and TechTV, there was once a non-commercial channel called "Jones Computer Network".
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: TWCToday on July 07, 2008, 01:32:40 AM
My newspaper (owned by landmark) has a big article on it. Looks like the change of hands will all happen at the end of this year
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/07/weather-channel-deal-sealed-35-billion-nbc-group
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: NYCTWCjunkie on July 07, 2008, 02:15:00 AM
For all of those who have been biting your nails (and toe nails) over the past few months:

(via NYTimes): "Under the terms of the deal, the Weather Channel will be run as an independent operation, rather than being merged into NBC’s own meteorological offering, NBC Weather Plus. Built as a competitor to the Weather Channel, Weather Plus has long been seen as an also-ran, with fewer viewers and generally higher placement on the channel dial."
EDIT: Billy clearly posted something similar above. Damn him. :P

That's a relief. If there was anything (and I mean ANYTHING) I could approve NBC doing with The Weather Channel is merging Weather Plus with WeatherScan. The graphics could be improved and the information could still be useful. Visually, what WeatherScan turned into is a monstrosity to watch. I like what WeatherScan had a few years ago. Add the local weather video segments that Weather Plus has and there's an improved and merged "NBC WeatherScan" hybrid.  Okay, I'm sure there would be plenty of tweaking to make a great sister channel for The Weather Channel, but you get my point.

As long as for The Weather Channel itself, NBC doesn't mess with the most important elements that identify what TWC has been. Then I'll be okay with NBC now owning TWC. DON'T TOUCH THE LOCAL ON THE 8s!
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Mike M on July 07, 2008, 02:18:11 AM
I can see Weatherscan being merged though. It's L-bar was likely implemented to compete with WeatherPlus.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: NYCTWCjunkie on July 07, 2008, 02:27:15 AM
You have a good and valid point there with Weather Plus' LDL. Holy crap, Mike... that's a live emulator feed you have going there?
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Mike M on July 07, 2008, 02:35:32 AM
You have a good and valid point there with Weather Plus' LDL. Holy crap, Mike... that's a live emulator feed you have going there?
Yes, it's not my emulator though. I had volunteered to stream the emulator online for the developer. For more info, go here (https://twctodayforums.com/forums/index.php/topic,1123.0.html).
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 07, 2008, 10:25:44 AM
I'll repeat what I said earlier again for the benefit of the doomsayers amongst us (cough Jtaylor cough). You won't see too many changes when the smoke settles. For the most part TWC is a winning recipe, so I highly doubt NBC is going to implement any terribly drastic changes. As they say, you don't fix what ain't broken.  :twothumbs:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Localonthe8s on July 07, 2008, 10:39:48 AM
For one thing, NBC Universal will likely have our weatherstar videos removed and our YouTube accounts terminated, since they now have TWC.
Uh oh, for real? :blink:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Alejandro on July 07, 2008, 11:00:49 AM
Another winning recipe would be to take off All the long-form programming including Forecast Earth
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 07, 2008, 11:09:27 AM
For one thing, NBC Universal will likely have our weatherstar videos removed and our YouTube accounts terminated, since they now have TWC.
Uh oh, for real? :blink:

Vic, use your head.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Localonthe8s on July 07, 2008, 11:14:18 AM
Well I most of the videos that I uploaded are no longer in my computer so I'm worried about that.

Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Mike M on July 07, 2008, 11:24:41 AM
If yes, not anytime soon. The deal doesn't close until year's end, and it will take awhile after that before NBC takes TWC videos off of YouTube. So you have plenty of time to enjoy them.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 07, 2008, 11:53:04 AM
GUYS NBC IS NOT GOING TO REMOVE OUR VIDEOS. FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES NOTHING WILL CHANGE ABOUT TWC. IT IS STILL, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES ITS OWN ENTITY. CAN'T YOU READ?

That is all.  :P
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Tyler on July 07, 2008, 12:05:46 PM
Gary, you don't know that for sure. NBC may very well take them down, eventually (not now, obviously).


Here's my prediction... the first sign of NBC/TWC integration will be TWC field OCMs (Jim, Mike, Jeff, etc) reporting on NBC's TODAY Show and Nightly News during weather events, and/or NBC's field OCMs reporting on TWC. This, though, it still down the road.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Concentric Eyewall on July 07, 2008, 12:15:27 PM
Uh oh, for real? :blink:

I'll repeat what I said earlier again for the benefit of the doomsayers amongst us (cough Jtaylor cough). You won't see too many changes when the smoke settles. For the most part TWC is a winning recipe, so I highly doubt NBC is going to implement any terribly drastic changes. As they say, you don't fix what ain't broken.  :twothumbs:

 :foolish:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 07, 2008, 12:40:16 PM
Gary, you don't know that for sure. NBC may very well take them down, eventually (not now, obviously).


Here's my prediction... the first sign of NBC/TWC integration will be TWC field OCMs (Jim, Mike, Jeff, etc) reporting on NBC's TODAY Show and Nightly News during weather events, and/or NBC's field OCMs reporting on TWC. This, though, it still down the road.

That's certainly not what I would call a major change. IN fact, I would welcome that! There's a big difference between that and total obliteration of the LF and WxScan as we know it, as some here are predicting, wouldn't you say Tyler?  :lol:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Concentric Eyewall on July 07, 2008, 02:43:55 PM
Here's my prediction... the first sign of NBC/TWC integration will be TWC field OCMs (Jim, Mike, Jeff, etc) reporting on NBC's TODAY Show and Nightly News during weather events, and/or NBC's field OCMs reporting on TWC. This, though, it still down the road.

Maybe, but I've definately seen that before...particularly Jim Contore on World News Tonight on ABC.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: TheRolyPoly on July 07, 2008, 03:30:47 PM
Interesting you mention Leo Laporte Steve. I used to love watching his shows on techTV/ZDTV

I loved techtv back in the days. I loved watching Leo when he was in the screen savers
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Spring Rubber on July 07, 2008, 04:18:22 PM
Meh, it's become the big thing for big corporations to take down copyrighted YouTube videos; I honestly wouldn't be surprised if NBC did such a thing.

Vic, you should consider re-downloading your YouTube videos with a site such as http://www.mediaconverter.org/
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Mike M on July 07, 2008, 04:27:35 PM
There's many NBC WeatherPlus videos up on YouTube, so they may or may not mind having TWC videos up there too.
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 07, 2008, 04:55:17 PM
Let's keep in mind that TWC will continue to be run as a seperate entity.  ;)

On a different note, one thing I realized that we should probably expect is more long form programming. Seems that teaming with a big media conglomerate like NBC would be ideal for TWC to expand their long form stuff.  :blink:
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Tyler on July 07, 2008, 05:44:52 PM
Maybe, but I've definately seen that before...particularly Jim Contore on World News Tonight on ABC.
Well those days are over. The management at NBC would shit themselves to find Jim appearing on a competing network once they actually "own" TWC. :P


Let's keep in mind that TWC will continue to be run as a seperate entity.  ;)
Doesn't matter. NBCU will manage TWC. If they want the videos down, then they shall be brought down. Or at least to the best of their abilities. ;)
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 07, 2008, 05:58:27 PM
Maybe, but I've definately seen that before...particularly Jim Contore on World News Tonight on ABC.
Well those days are over. The management at NBC would shit themselves to find Jim appearing on a competing network once they actually "own" TWC. :P


Let's keep in mind that TWC will continue to be run as a seperate entity.  ;)
Doesn't matter. NBCU will manage TWC. If they want the videos down, then they shall be brought down. Or at least to the best of their abilities. ;)

Mark my words, nothing will change in terms of YouTube.  ;)
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Mike M on July 07, 2008, 06:00:51 PM
On a different note, one thing I realized that we should probably expect is more long form programming. Seems that teaming with a big media conglomerate like NBC would be ideal for TWC to expand their long form stuff.  :blink:
Yah, we could see Law & Order and The Office on TWC! :o :P
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Tyler on July 07, 2008, 06:37:21 PM
Honestly, I wouldn't mind L&O: SVU in place of Storm Stories at this point. L&O: SVU is my favorite show, though. :P
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: Jtaylor1 on July 21, 2008, 07:25:45 PM
Does this mean I have to take down my homemade WeatherStar Videos once this deal comes to a close?
Title: Re: NBC Buys TWC!!!
Post by: lfmusiclover on July 21, 2008, 07:28:52 PM
No. :no: