Messages

1

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: August 27, 2011, 03:58:03 PM »

Some people like to go shopping during major storms because they figure the stores will be less crowded, provided they're open. I've gone grocery shopping during snowstorms for that reason, then again the store is less than a mile from me. It's still not worth going out if it's too dangerous.

2

Hurricane Central / Re: Hurricane Irene

« on: August 27, 2011, 03:42:58 PM »

Getting increasingly cloudy in New Hampshire, it's actually been a very still and muggy day so far. Here on the VT border the biggest concern is 4-8 inches of rain with widespread flooding, and possible trees down because of saturated ground. Even if the storm weakens wind-wise the rain/flooding threat won't diminish.

3

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: August 27, 2011, 03:35:49 PM »

Longform: "WAA, WHY AREN'T THEY ON THE AIR???"

Actually covering the situation: "WAA, WHY AREN'T THEY SHOWING THE LF???"

So, you guys are either way.

I agree. I don't particularly care for the lack of actual LFs, but in the big scheme of things, it is no big deal. Let's be glad they are actually covering weather for a change, and not doing :30 updates with "Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the Carolinas, now back to Peter Lik (or Twist of Fate)." 

30 seconds might give them just enough time to add that there could be damaging winds and storm surge. In all seriousness while I do miss the LF it's good to see TWC providing actual coverage of Irene, and if there's too much complaining about that coverage then they just might go back to longform. I will say I'm disappointed that they took Jim Cantore out of Rhode Island, so if I'm not mistaken there is now nobody reporting from New England.

4

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: August 27, 2011, 03:29:16 PM »

Still lots of traffic behind Eric Fisher at 3PM in VA Beach. They don't seem too concerned apparently.

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Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: August 23, 2011, 02:03:51 PM »

I'm very glad to see TWC proactively preempting the longform well in advance of the storm. I've been watching their coverage and it really reminds me of the "classic" days-weather information when you need it without having to wait for the 6:00 news. They have the experts and the technology, it's great to see them using it. Maybe they are overhyping Irene a bit so far in advance, but I'd rather see them do that than ignore it like they did with longform during so many severe tstorm events this summer. Let's hope they keep up the great coverage and also that Irene curves out to sea without hitting land.

6

Local Forecast / Re: Why no Marine Forecast on Great Lakes IntelliStars?

« on: August 21, 2011, 09:27:35 PM »

No marine forecasts on Intellistar for the Great Lakes? Wow that is surprising. I live in New England but I've been to Lakes Erie and Michigan and they are just like the ocean, complete with storms, big waves, wave cut shorelines and no land visible on the horizon. They also have large recreational boating and shipping operations and are one of our most important water routes. The same navigation rules apply. Just about the only difference from the ocean is the fresh water. So I agree there should be a marine or lakes water forecast on the LF for the Great Lakes.

7

Local Forecast / Re: Late 1980s LF song with meowing cats

« on: July 31, 2011, 12:07:41 AM »

They played some interesting songs by Pat Metheny back then too. I remember "Last Train Home" (another sound effect, this time a train whistle) in particular and a couple others I can't recall the names of but could find easily enough.

8

Programming and Graphics / Re: Another Flick and a Forecast situation is happening

« on: July 31, 2011, 12:01:29 AM »

I was surprised to see that TWC actually preempted longform on Friday to cover Tropical Storm Don. Ironically, as even the on air meteorologists admitted, Don was a total nonevent that had much less impact than the daily severe thunderstorms that they never preempt longform to cover.

9

Programming and Graphics / Re: If Al Roker wasn't enough...

« on: July 30, 2011, 11:56:16 PM »

all TWC needs now is to pick up Ice Road Truckers and they're all set xD

Since we're on an Alaska theme here, let's also add "Deadliest Catch." Weather does actually play a big role on that show.

10

Local Forecast / Re: Late 1980s LF song with meowing cats

« on: July 20, 2011, 01:27:12 AM »

Yes they sure played some offbeat music at the end of the 80's into the early 90's, to say the least. That was one way TWC was able to distinguish itself in those early days.  I remember my dad was in the room when Cats of Rio played one time and he said  rather perplexed "Where do they get this music? 

11

Programming and Graphics / Re: Another Flick and a Forecast situation is happening

« on: July 20, 2011, 12:51:43 AM »

I remember John Hope reporting on Hugo too,  that was right around the time I started watching TWC. I was a young kid but I was still impressed by how good he was and could tell this was his life's mission, to provide people the information they needed to stay safe. I also remember TWC's reporting on the March 1993 Superstorm, again they showed that tireless effort to cover the storm. Dennis Smith was on top of that storm. I think both John Hope (if he were still alive) and Dennis Smith would walk off their jobs at TWC if they saw what the channel is like now.

12

Local Forecast / Re: Late 1980s LF song with meowing cats

« on: July 18, 2011, 12:35:11 AM »

"Cats of Rio" by the Grusins! Yes that was it! Thanks a lot for finding that so quickly, I had searched around the site but couldn't find it myself.

13

Local Forecast / Late 1980s LF song with meowing cats

« on: July 16, 2011, 10:05:55 PM »

The was a song with a sound effect of meowing cats that I remember hearing on the Local Forecast sometime around 1988 or 89. At the end the cats' meowing transitions to a howling sound.  I can best describe the song as being very progressive jazz or new age, it sounded very bizarre and distinctive. I think it was one of the shorter LF flavors. I'm sorry I can't remember any more details but I was very young then. Does anyone remember this song?

14

Programming and Graphics / Re: Another Flick and a Forecast situation is happening

« on: July 16, 2011, 09:44:15 PM »

There have been some awful storms recently, like the one that damaged Denver's airport and the huge squall that went through Chicago and other areas. If I'm not mistaken TWC never preempted longform during those events. But as I mention in another post it's simply their new business model and responding to the larger market demand for reality programming. That being said I wonder if they'll eventually be all longform all the time, even during hurricanes. I can just imagine the 30-second live updates "A major hurricane is pounding the Atlantic coast, now back to Peter Lik."

15

Programming and Graphics / Re: Less Weather Coverage, Terrible Programming

« on: July 16, 2011, 09:33:29 PM »

If they preempt programming, they're expecting ratings/viewership to go up from this coverage, so they can rack up the $$.

Money money money.... it's all TV networks care about these days

As should any business.  Money is kind of an important thing in any business.  I think it always has been about money.  Viewing habits have changed dramatically over the past decade plus.  More and more people spend less and less time watching TV, so when they do, these networks need something that will attract them.  I know many of you don't like hearing this, but "reality" sells.  Shows like Storm Stories and Peter Lik are probably what people want to see, and it's obviously working for TWC.

TWC is a business, and in order for a business to be successful it needs to respond to what the consumer market wants. And now the market wants reality TV. Those of us who are into weather and want a live 24 hour broadcast devoted to it are just a niche. The loss of live weather coverage isn't an accident, TWC knows exactly what it's doing. Unlike back in the 80s when they started, thanks to the internet and other info sources people now have many other ways to get their local weather. Still I think TWC should cover severe weather since that was their original mission, and that even during what live coverage remains their quality has gone downhill, and that's not about to change. A few nights ago I caught a "Live Update" where the OCM basically said "There are big storms in Missouri and Tennessee. You know what, you want more info go to weather.com. Now back to Tornado Diary." The message was clear: "Don't bother looking to us for storm info anymore, go online or elsewhere."