TWC Today Forums
Present - The Weather Channel 2000 => OCMs & Personalities => Topic started by: Spring Rubber on June 17, 2010, 04:12:13 AM
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I tuned into First Outlook today, only to discover the debut of a new OCM, Steve MacLaughlin. The only thing I can find about him is that he worked for KXAS in Dallas until January 2010, when he opted to not renew his contract in favor of searching for new job opportunities out east.
This is a pretty surprising move considering that TWC already hired Maria LaRosa, and it's only a matter of time before she comes back from maternity leave. TWC already has too many OCMs for its shortened live programming schedule as it is, so does this mean that some veteran OCMs might be leaving soon? I guess time will tell, but I'm a little concerned.
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Either that, or the vet OCMs will be sent out more often do to more long-form. :hmm:
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They're probably hiring more OCMs for the anticipation of a more active hurricane season.
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They're probably hiring more OCMs for the anticipation of a more active hurricane season.
What do you do after hurricane season? Lay OCMs off?
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I have a slight feeling we might see some layoffs by the end of hurricane season. I feel it's too much. Plus, we still haven't got to see Maria yet, even though she's still on leave.
Besides, they're cutting off live programming.. so why add more?
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In the past few years, TWC has dropped several good meteorologists, such as Dave Schwartz, for one. TWC was probably paying them too much money, so they were laid off. Now, TWC doesn't have to pay new meteorologists as much, so thats a way to pay off the Bob Stokes lawsuit, and set money aside for new technology.
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What, what??? :wacko: I like Steve M...I think he's a great meteorologist and am sad he left the KXAS NBC 5 station here in Dallas. Had no idea he would end up on TWC, though. :no:
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it was a trade for Jennifer Lopez! :P
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In the past few years, TWC has dropped several good meteorologists, such as Dave Schwartz, for one. TWC was probably paying them too much money, so they were laid off. Now, TWC doesn't have to pay new meteorologists as much, so thats a way to pay off the Bob Stokes lawsuit, and set money aside for new technology.
I believe a reorganization (encouraged by NBC) forced TWC to drastically cut costs. OCMs and a lot of behind the scene folks were cut. Its becoming clear they cut their on air staff too low and have to hire new people.
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it was a trade for Jennifer Lopez! :P
That's exactly what I was thinking, too. :P
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Are all (or most) of these new OCMs coming from local NBC weather stations (or some NBC-affiliated company)? :dunno:
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Are all (or most) of these new OCMs coming from local NBC weather stations (or some NBC-affiliated company)? :dunno:
Yeah, that's the general idea apparently. TWC has featured live shots from (and mentioned) KXAS many a time, so I am not at all surprised to see someone from that station coming on-board.
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Yeah, that's the general idea apparently. TWC has featured live shots from (and mentioned) KXAS many a time, so I am not at all surprised to see someone from that station coming on-board.
Well I would hope they are getting live reports from NBC affiliates and not CBS or ABC affiliates since after all they are owned by NBC.
I believe that when NBC took ownership, TWC discontinued any agreements with non-NBC affiliates.
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I believe that when NBC took ownership, TWC discontinued any agreements with non-NBC affiliates.
Although that took a while to do. I guess their reorganization in that sense took some time to complete.
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I believe that when NBC took ownership, TWC discontinued any agreements with non-NBC affiliates.
I can back that statement up by the fact that prior to the purchase, TWC showed shots of Downtown Tampa courtesy of WTVT, our Fox affiliate. Today, shots come from WFLA, our NBC affiliate.
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Yeah, prior to the deal, TWC used live shots courtesy of KDKA (CBS) and KDKA reporters during severe weather events in the Pittsburgh area. Now they always use the WPXI (NBC) towercam.
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Yeah, that's the general idea apparently. TWC has featured live shots from (and mentioned) KXAS many a time, so I am not at all surprised to see someone from that station coming on-board.
Well I would hope they are getting live reports from NBC affiliates and not CBS or ABC affiliates since after all they are owned by NBC.
I believe that when NBC took ownership, TWC discontinued any agreements with non-NBC affiliates.
I could have sworn I saw some ABC affiliate in the past but perhaps I was wrong.
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I tuned into First Outlook today, only to discover the debut of a new OCM, Steve MacLaughlin. The only thing I can find about him is that he worked for KXAS in Dallas until January 2010, when he opted to not renew his contract in favor of searching for new job opportunities out east.
This is a pretty surprising move considering that TWC already hired Maria LaRosa, and it's only a matter of time before she comes back from maternity leave. TWC already has too many OCMs for its shortened live programming schedule as it is, so does this mean that some veteran OCMs might be leaving soon? I guess time will tell, but I'm a little concerned.
Maybe this means they'll increase the programming schedule... although at this point in time it's too much to hope for. :meh:
TWC will just be shooting themselves in the foot again if they lay off anymore OCMs. Although given the trend, that's actually not too unlikely. :no:
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AND apparently he sings
http://www.steveweathermusic.com (http://www.steveweathermusic.com)
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He's no Weather Dude.
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He's no Weather Dude.
No HES the Weather Dude
Weather Dude Nick Walker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIWU4UVtPts#)
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Yeah, that's the general idea apparently. TWC has featured live shots from (and mentioned) KXAS many a time, so I am not at all surprised to see someone from that station coming on-board.
Well I would hope they are getting live reports from NBC affiliates and not CBS or ABC affiliates since after all they are owned by NBC.
I believe that when NBC took ownership, TWC discontinued any agreements with non-NBC affiliates.
I could have sworn I saw some ABC affiliate in the past but perhaps I was wrong.
There's only been one case I can think of on MSNBC (which is similar in policy) where they used a non-NBC affiliate: when the Binghamton, NY shootings happened, they used WBNG's resources. (WBNG is a CBS affiliate.)
But I've seen a mix of Big Fours on TWC in the past...I seem to remember either WSB or WGCL was used for an Atlanta report (even after the TWC buyout), and of course TWC had larger deals with WSB and WCBS in the past.
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I actually like Steve quite a bit. Reminds me of Adam Berg. :)
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Steve is a really great guy, IMO. :biggrin: He has a great personality, and I always enjoyed watching him at KXAS Channel 5 in Dallas. I'm glad to see he's on TWC, where I can still watch him! :D
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http://www.hdreps.com/talent/stephen-maclaughlin.html (http://www.hdreps.com/talent/stephen-maclaughlin.html)
It seems that Steve is just a freelancer for TWC according to the above site, so there's no telling how long he'll be around.
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[url]http://www.hdreps.com/talent/stephen-maclaughlin.html[/url] ([url]http://www.hdreps.com/talent/stephen-maclaughlin.html[/url])
It seems that Steve is just a freelancer for TWC according to the above site, so there's no telling how long he'll be around.
Thanks for that...even further evidence that Warren Madden and/or Ryan Goswick are gone.
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You guys sure Steve MacLaughlin is at TWC? I swear I saw him on Pittsburgh's ABC affiliate a couple of days ago (either that or it was a similar name....) :dunno:
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You guys sure Steve MacLaughlin is at TWC? I swear I saw him on Pittsburgh's ABC affiliate a couple of days ago (either that or it was a similar name....) :dunno:
I haven't seen Steve MacLaughlin on air on TWC in a few weeks. I suppose it's a high possibility that Steve is either a freelancer and bounces around from city to city, or he's no longer at TWC.
Edit, looks like Steve is now indeed at WTAE: http://www.facebook.com/wtae4/posts/125446377501463 (http://www.facebook.com/wtae4/posts/125446377501463)
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I do remember someone posting a link that indicated Steeve was a freelancer. Best of luck to him in Pittsburgh!
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He was a freelancer at TWC, and I guess he found a more permanent job.
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Awww. Steve was a cool guy. Best of luck to him. :itsok:
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I guess it's now Former OCM Steve MacLaughlin :P
this probably means a new position is now open, for freelancing i guess.
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That's too bad that's he's no longer at TWC. I enjoyed watching him in Dallas and then at TWC, but now it looks like I won't see him anymore at all :itsok:
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He is possibly on TWC the shortest time (for like almost a month) than any other OCMs.
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Seeing him with the title as a freelancer doesnt mean he only did stuff for TWC :no: he was on TWC cuz they needed someone to fill in and i can assume he was granted a full-time job by the station and for more money
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Wow, that was a short time, though...
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Yeah, prior to the deal, TWC used live shots courtesy of KDKA (CBS) and KDKA reporters during severe weather events in the Pittsburgh area. Now they always use the WPXI (NBC) towercam.
Sometimes TWC shows live shots of Detroit from WDIV, which is an NBC station.
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Yeah, that's the general idea apparently. TWC has featured live shots from (and mentioned) KXAS many a time, so I am not at all surprised to see someone from that station coming on-board.
Well I would hope they are getting live reports from NBC affiliates and not CBS or ABC affiliates since after all they are owned by NBC.
I believe that when NBC took ownership, TWC discontinued any agreements with non-NBC affiliates.
I could have sworn I saw some ABC affiliate in the past but perhaps I was wrong.
There's only been one case I can think of on MSNBC (which is similar in policy) where they used a non-NBC affiliate: when the Binghamton, NY shootings happened, they used WBNG's resources. (WBNG is a CBS affiliate.)
But I've seen a mix of Big Fours on TWC in the past...I seem to remember either WSB or WGCL was used for an Atlanta report (even after the TWC buyout), and of course TWC had larger deals with WSB and WCBS in the past.
Maybe there were no NBC stations in/near Binghampton.
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[url]http://www.hdreps.com/talent/stephen-maclaughlin.html[/url] ([url]http://www.hdreps.com/talent/stephen-maclaughlin.html[/url])
It seems that Steve is just a freelancer for TWC according to the above site, so there's no telling how long he'll be around.
Thanks for that...even further evidence that Warren Madden and/or Ryan Goswick are gone.
I didn't see Warren much in 2007-2009, so I thought he became an OCM fill-in...
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I saw him quit a few times in 2009... :unsure: