Messages

1

Local Forecast / Re: Traffic on LDL

« on: July 30, 2014, 07:03:53 PM »

I'll get a video of the LDL traffiic up at some point.  To me it's an improvement over what they had before with the "blade" LDL, which I could barely comprehend.  It's introduced new issues for Fios' Unintellistar, though.

As for a provider, I would say Beat The Traffic.  Pelmorex owns BTT, and The Weather Company has a sizeable stake in Pelmorex. 

2

Local Forecast / Generic Severe Wx Crawls?

« on: July 14, 2014, 02:08:12 PM »

I'm not sure if this is a new thing or not, but I don't seem to remember it being like this, so...

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for our area by the National Weather Service.  (Imagine that read by Allen Jackson.)  In the past, however, I seem to remember Watches using the NWS bulletin, I know the Warnings do.  Today the crawl for the Watch has just been this:

"A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for our area by the National Weather Service until 800PM EDT Monday.  Please stay tuned to The Weather Channel for further updates."

Don't remember it being generic like this.  Is it new or am I just imagining things?

3

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: July 08, 2014, 07:53:44 PM »

Does anyone else's Intellistar 1 have the same problems mine does?

Namely losing the network feed, but not the severe thunderstorm warning, mid-local forecast?

4

Programming and Graphics / Re: The Weather Channel - LIVE ON YOUTUBE

« on: July 02, 2014, 10:14:47 PM »

It's not an official TWC stream.  When Arthur hits hurricane status, and if the models keep pushing left like they have, expect them to go live on YouTube.

5

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Dave Schwartz Returns

« on: July 02, 2014, 10:10:08 PM »

Yeah, Dave has been extremely goofy and the pairing with Alex Wilson has turned out to be a winner.  Definitely a great duo to watch these days.

6

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: General IS2 Discussion

« on: July 02, 2014, 10:08:13 PM »

I think the graphical differences are a lot more noticable than people think - the animation is definitely smoother.

I just want something to replace my Unintellistar which goes nuts and shuts down every several days or so.

7

IntelliStar 2 Discussion / Re: General IS2 Discussion

« on: June 19, 2014, 08:40:10 PM »

Heard a promotion for TWC/AMHQ on the radio today.  It was tagged by Comcast:  "Now on Xfinity, get your local weather all the time, now in HD!  Channel 815!"

So they're promoting the IS2, basically.

*grumbles about having Fios and the world's most pathetic Intellistar 1*

8

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: June 19, 2014, 08:33:48 PM »

For most of yesterday current conditions were out on the LOT8s, but not on the LDL.

Today, the FiOS Unintellistar is not displaying the long-form LDL, but is cuing up the full LFs at :18 and :48 and the lower third LOT8s at all other times...

9

Local Forecast / Re: Emergency Feed Sightings

« on: May 12, 2014, 07:03:25 PM »

Got the Emergency Feed sightings recorded and will upload when I have a chance.

10

Local Forecast / Re: 4000/XL/Jr. - The End Is Near

« on: May 09, 2014, 12:58:52 AM »

TWC is providing the equipment to the legacy providers at no cost.

While this seems like it's insanity, as Tyler said the amount of legacy STARs still out there is not very large.  Plus, you have to think of the long run here - while TWC might be taking a short term hit, they'll save money by not having to provide an analog feed and not having to support technology that's essentially two to three decades old.

I think the same thing is happening with the sudden spurt in the amount of Intellistar 2 units.  TWC obviously caved and decided getting it out there was more important than charging a high price.  Plus some cable systems will just replace the SD IS1 feed with a downconverted HD IS2 feed.  Not having to run two separate units for local forecasts = money saved.

I don't think every legacy provider will upgrade by the deadline.  Some might just be comfortable with the national feed, and they'll switch to that on their SD TWC feed. 

11

Local Forecast / 4000/XL/Jr. - The End Is Near

« on: May 08, 2014, 12:15:01 AM »

I got this from a friend who works at a cable affiliate.  I trust him, and know the information is accurate.

The Weather Channel will be ending its analogue feed on May 31st.  Why is this important?  Because the Legacy STARs - the 4000, the XL, and the WeatherStar Jr. - rely on that feed. 

That means that come May 31st, all units prior to the Intellistar 1 will cease to function.

TWC knows this and is providing new units to ALL providers still using legacy STARs.  If your 4000/XL/Jr. just got replaced by an Intellistar 2 SD unit, that's what they're rolling out.

Expect that rollout to start increasing dramatically.  TWC wants everyone on the new Intellistar units by May 16th.

Basically?

If you still have a 4000, an XL, or a Junior, START TAPING NOW.  You literally have days left!

12

Local Forecast / Re: Station ID segment? Should it return?

« on: April 11, 2014, 04:25:33 PM »

Here's something I put together in like five minutes.  It would display only at :29 and :59, immediately after the local forecast. 

13

Local Forecast / Re: Station ID segment? Should it return?

« on: April 05, 2014, 02:48:36 PM »

The reason you don't see an ID anymore is programming flow.  Networks want shows to "flow" seamlessly, with no commercial breaks, for fear of audience turnover.  That's why, instead of a commercial break leading up to the :58 local, the OCM will simply toss to LOT8s and say "we'll be back in sixty seconds".  No network airs a regular ID anymore, for similar reasons.

I do think the Local Weather ID should be shown, somewhat prominently, at least once per hour.  I don't know when or how, but it should be shown or made available for technical reasons.

14

WeatherSTAR Tech Support / Re: Severe Weather Alerts

« on: February 21, 2014, 01:54:09 PM »

Getting the alert tone every time the crawl repeats itself.

15

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: February 21, 2014, 01:50:15 PM »

First time I've been getting the generic "This is your weather" on my IS.  Then again, we're in tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warning for the first time since WATT began.

Also, my basemaps are now the correct color.  Finally.