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Other => General Discussion => Topic started by: Trevor on August 07, 2013, 08:29:54 PM

Title: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: Trevor on August 07, 2013, 08:29:54 PM
A few of you may be familiar with "Network Weather", a YouTube channel featuring meteorologists, including Dave Schwartz, delivering internet forecasts (http://youtu.be/GusPWqB4GTs). This channel will become a nationwide cable channel starting in October 2014. Even better, our beloved meteorologists Dave Schwartz and Rich Johnson will be meteorologists on the channel. Other meteorologists will include Mark Mathis, Eric Welch, Mike Smith, and Steve Smith.

Press Release:
Quote
For Immediate Release

Network Weather Set To Launch October 2014 New 24-Hour Weather Service Will Be Broadcast Nationally

Atlanta, Ga. (August 7, 2013) — It was announced today that Network Weather, a new 24-hour weather station, will launch October 2014, appearing nationally via cable television and broadband Internet providers.

The Network Weather team has recruited veteran meteorologists Dave Schwartz and Rich Johnson, whose combined experience at The Weather Channel totals more than 50 years. Viewers who watched them during that period know that Dave and Rich are passionate about their profession. “What fires me up is the drama of weather. Both writing and speaking about my wonder and passion for this truly awesome field is something I just love to do,” says Schwartz. Network Weather’s segments will be designed for what viewers want—live, weather-centered programming. “One of the most exciting times of my 30-year career as a meteorologist was helping The Weather Channel get off the ground. I hope to be a resource for Network Weather to achieve the same success,” says Johnson.

Also joining Network Weather is meteorologist Mark Mathis, who has over 20 years of on-air experience with several television networks. “I try to have fun with the weather when the actual weather warrants it, and people seem to have responded positively,” says Mathis.

Network Weather will offer current weather segments, forecasts, and features to its viewers in an engaging, informative, and entertaining way. “Weather is such a rich topic that even on a so-called ‘slow weather day’ we’ll show you how exciting and compelling it can be,” says Schwartz. Network Weather executives are currently working with national advertisers to sponsor this unique and valuable programming. To learn more about Network Weather, LLC, please contact Randy Davies, Media Relations, by mail at 2107 N. Decatur Road, Suite 151, Decatur, GA 30033, by phone at (845) 562-1218, or by email at networkweatherllc@gmail.com. Visit Network Weather on


This is great news and I wish them the best of luck! So excited that we will be able to see Dave and Rich on TV again soon.
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: toxictwister00 on August 07, 2013, 08:52:52 PM
Good luck to em, it's not going to be easy going up against a monopoly company like TWC. They're fighting to hold on to what little viewership they can now. (during dull periods I mean when they splatter all the longform crap on)
However, I think they can pull off being successful if they stick to their word in the press release.
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: TWCCraig on August 07, 2013, 10:21:05 PM
Good luck to em, it's not going to be easy going up against a monopoly company like TWC. They're fighting to hold on to what little viewership they can now. (during dull periods I mean when they splatter all the longform crap on)
However, I think they can pull off being successful if they stick to their word in the press release.
They shouldn't have a problem. Only set back they have is that they don't have a lot of viewership on their internet forecasts, they aren't known well to the general public, other than a community like ours. They shouldn't have a problem against TWC. After all when people tune to TWC, they want know what the weather will be like, not to know how to rangle reefs and know how to hunt iceburgs.  :lol:
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: Eric on August 07, 2013, 10:51:23 PM
Hopefully this network will enjoy widespread carriage throughout the country.  It has the potential to be everything The Weather Channel once was.  I'll be looking forward to this.
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: Metarvo on August 07, 2013, 10:53:38 PM
The effects of a new network could be twofold.  The presence of a competitor may cause TWC to rethink its ways and shape up.  The revolving door of OCMs and the abundance of longform are two areas which I think could be improved.  If TWC doesn't take the hint and stays the same, Network Weather will at least be there to pick up the slack.

The potential negative outcomes as I see them are a Network Weather which doesn't catch on or a highly successful Network Weather that TWC ends up buying out to eliminate the competition.  Either one of these scenarios would reaffirm the monopoly, but the latter is unlikely IMHO as I don't think TWC would take Schwartz or Johnson back.
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: jmills on September 03, 2013, 09:36:52 PM
https://www.facebook.com/networkweatherchannel (https://www.facebook.com/networkweatherchannel)

A new "24 hour cable weather channel" is set to be launched in October 2014 nationwide...
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: weatherfan_2013 on September 06, 2013, 01:49:57 AM
I wonder if they will incorporate their version of Local on the 8s. Maybe they will build new Units for delivering Local Forecasts to a certain area like Intellistar. I really hope they do as well as put on Smooth Jazz during their forecasts. I really hope they pick that up and not repeat the same songs as TWC has on now.
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: cc17926 on September 15, 2013, 09:10:43 PM
Did something happen to this effort? The facebook page appears to be inaccessible and any links from Dave Schwartz page appear to be gone. Any thoughts?
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: gt1racerlHDl on September 16, 2013, 09:22:43 AM
Did something happen to this effort? The facebook page appears to be inaccessible and any links from Dave Schwartz page appear to be gone. Any thoughts?

The Facebook page must've been deleted or removed, i'm being redirected to my home profile page.
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: Mike M on September 17, 2013, 01:01:53 AM
Won't be surprised if a copyright controversy popped up (hint hint The Weather Network) or lack of profits caused them to abandon the plan.
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: Eric on September 17, 2013, 11:20:04 AM
Won't be surprised if a copyright controversy popped up (hint hint The Weather Network) or lack of profits caused them to abandon the plan.

I doubt it's the first case.  There should be enough of a difference between "The Weather Network" and "Network Weather" to be acceptable, unless TWN's lawyers got insanely bored one day.  Besides, The Weather Network isn't available in the United States and I doubt Network Weather would be available in Canada, so arguing copyright infringement over the names would REALLY be pushing the envelope.

It costs a tremendous amount of money to start up a television network, and I suppose they just weren't able to pull it off.  Their potential backers could easily have said that there's already a channel dedicated to the weather.  They just don't care that the priorities of The Weather Channel have changed so much over the past few years and that Network Weather was going to go back to what The Weather Channel was once upon a time.
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: Mike M on September 24, 2013, 05:38:35 PM
Looks like the Facebook page is back https://www.facebook.com/networkweatherchannel (https://www.facebook.com/networkweatherchannel)
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: cc17926 on September 25, 2013, 08:19:58 PM
Indeed it is odd that it is back, without any explanation..
Title: Re: NEW "Network Weather Channel" to launch nationwide
Post by: Mike M on October 31, 2013, 09:27:49 AM
They've been posting status updates in the last week, so looks like all is good for now.