IntelliSTAR units to be retired this October...???

[TWCJim]

Figured I should start a new topic about this. I came across this link to a PDF file through a random Google search:


https://www.nctconline.org/index.php/programming/technical-notices/item/download/74_f656cf3afe5f4b94de0028c8bc1b0568


Sounds like The Weather Channel is retiring all of the remaining IntelliSTAR units, requiring all cable headends who still have them to upgrade to an IS2 and/or an IS2 Jr by this October. Better enjoy the IS while it's still around, I suppose.

[TWCKelby]

Its sad to see the original IntelliStar go. It's had a good 12 or so year run. I wonder if WeatherScan is going to be updated, or just plain discontinued now since it says "Please note that your new IntelliStar equipment must be installed by October 1, 2015 to ensure seamless activation with no disruption to service. All IntelliStar 1 SD units will discontinue service no later than November 16, 2015."

[Weatherman99]

The weatherscan intelliStar is different from the weather channel's IS. Still it's sad to know that the Allen Jackson narration will soon be discontinued. IMO the Jim Cantore narration doesn't sound much like Cantore.

[Localonthe8s]

pardon my ignorance but I thought the Intellistar was discontinued already? And everyone has the IS2 at least in SD??

[WeatherWitness]

pardon my ignorance but I thought the Intellistar was discontinued already? And everyone has the IS2 at least in SD??

I don't think so.   Most cable providers, however, do seem to be showing a letterboxed HD feed on SD (which I assume removes the purpose for an IS 1 anymore).  But I think there are some IS 1 systems still around from those cable companies who have not yet made the switch.  Now I guess these companies have to decide whether they want to letterbox the HD feed on SD and use that IntelliSTAR 2 xD or keep the SD feed as 4:3 and install an IntelliSTAR 2 Jr.  I wonder which is cheaper?

Also, I don't understand what they mean by "The FCC has mandated that in order for The Weather Channel to continue to provide emergency alerts to viewers, we must ensure that an audible version of such alerts is also available to customers."  Didn't the IS 1 have audible versions of the emergency alerts?  Does the IS2 have Cantore reading the entire alert out loud or something now?

[mightynine]

pardon my ignorance but I thought the Intellistar was discontinued already? And everyone has the IS2 at least in SD??

Cox Cable in New Orleans still has a IS on SD. It might be on its last legs, noticed a lot of late cues lately.

Wonder if they will just downconvert HD to SD or actually grab a Jr.

[TWCJim]

My Charter headend still has the IS but no IS2 yet.  Chances are they'll probably finally get an IS2 before the October deadline. I wonder if Charter will also get an IS2 Jr as well, but they'll probably just simulcast the IS2/HD feed onto the SD channel once the IS2 is installed.

[Weatherman99]

Maybe this whole thing of buying an IntelliStar 2/ IntelliStar 2 Jr. is why Verizon FiOS decided to drop the weather channel. I'm not sure when this notice was sent to the cable headends, but alluding to the fact that cable companies are forced to upgrade, I infer that this was prolly the reason FiOS dropped TWC. 

[mightynine]

Maybe this whole thing of buying an IntelliStar 2/ IntelliStar 2 Jr. is why Verizon FiOS decided to drop the weather channel. I'm not sure when this notice was sent to the cable headends, but alluding to the fact that cable companies are forced to upgrade, I infer that this was prolly the reason FiOS dropped TWC.

The statement says the replacement will be at no cost to affiliates.

If a system drops TWC, it's because the two sides couldn't agree on how much the system would pay per subscriber to TWC. Period. 

[TWCKelby]

Welp, looks like Blue Ridge here already replaced our IntelliStar with a letterboxed version of the IntelliStar 2 here within hours of TWCJim's first post O.o. I just talked to one of the technicians finally, and he told me that "that was their only option". (He has no idea about anything in that letter but I bet they got it already) And apparently they've been getting complaints that people are only getting one location for the weather now as compared to one location on SD and another on HD in places. Glad I managed to get the few videos of it I did before it disappeared.

RIP IntelliStar: ??/??/???? to 5/29/2015

[tpirfan28]

Last I knew good ol' 26820 was still in service...with no IS2.

[toxictwister00]

First, let me say I'm not the least bit surprised to hear about this. It seemed like a foreshadowing of what was to come considering all legacy STAR units were required to be retired/decommissioned last year. Technically, the IntelliSTAR is a legacy STAR also because of longevity. It makes sense to start moving on to something more updated across the board (technology wise).

Also regarding Weatherscan, it's either going bye-bye or they'll probably just leave it alone since they obviously have slim to zero interest in it right now anyway.

[boyercam]

Same here, I'm not surprised to hear this. The Allen Jackson narrations must be the last remains of the TWC we all love and NBC must really want to get rid of it . It's going to be interesting to see what the fate of WeatherScan will be, I think they may well get rid of that too seeming as the number of providers carrying it has decreased over the years.

Keep a look out for these units around your cable provider's headend trash cans (is that the word or is it dumpster?)! 

[Localonthe8s]

You guys should take pictures/videos of the non IS2s still in service. I'd love to see some of them in their state today.

[Vanmax22]

My intellistar Ticker has a really weird shade of really light blue