Messages

31

General Discussion / Re: What is the last thing you bought?

« on: November 22, 2013, 09:07:19 PM »

A ticket to Catching Fire.

32

The Game Room / Re: Stupid Questions

« on: November 21, 2013, 05:23:05 PM »

I never consulted with da mare about it.

I really need to go to the bathroom. Can I just do my business onto the third rail? It's not like anyone will be walking on it.

33

The Game Room / Re: Lie your Butt Off

« on: November 15, 2013, 04:41:27 AM »

You will win the Nobel Prize for mooning your boss.

34

WeatherSTAR Tech Support / Re: Update-Related Issues

« on: November 13, 2013, 11:23:19 PM »

I've been seeing the 7-day rerendering issue on both the SD IS (21813) and the IS2 (ID unknown) on Xfinity in Chicago.

Also, that same IS2 had an issue in the LF today at 10:18 PM CT when it didn't render the background at all, so all the data was superimposed on the national LF.

35

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 11:27:48 PM »

Is it true that our local forecasts on The Weather Channel are getting shorter and local forecasts on Canada's Weather Network are getting longer? These new local forecasts on The Weather Channel do remind me of The Weather Network as there are maybe only two songs that are played and each one has a few variations to them.

speaking of songs, does anyone know the name of the song playing in the LOT8s? I have not seen the "song ID" screen some people claim to see

There is no song ID during the actual LF. It was only used for the shows played before going to commercials. That's how I found out the name of a song they played that I hated, because it sounded like a car playing extremely loud, bass-heavy music that rattles the entire block. But now I forgot it.

The songs in the LF are part of a sonic branding produced by Man Made Music. They also designed the sonic branding for the rebrandings of Univision and UniMás earlier this year.

36

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 08:25:52 PM »

Okay, is it just me, or are the jokes getting annoying now? They were funny at first, now it just seems unfitting.

...
Memphis, here's your morning weather

That's what is seen on the IS2 apparently in place of the jokes

As I said earlier, the jokes are only on the SD IS.  The IS2 just says "Hello [city name], this is your weather."

I've actually been seeing the jokes on the IS2 here. I haven't checked on the SD IS, though, since I haven't tuned in right at the beginning of the LF.

37

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 06:35:25 PM »

I noticed that the music sounded rather quiet on the SD LF, and the basemap is still green. I heard buzzing on it too. Also, the background of the SD and HD LFs don't seem to match all the time. (I was watching them at the same time.) Speaking of which, just how many are there?

Does anyone notice that the the top part of the sidebar looks different now? It still has the same text, but the "you're watching" text is much smaller, and the rest of the text is arranged in the same way as the TWC logo. There is also a big sun icon peeking out from the right edge.

I really like these icons. They match the new look perfectly, and the animations are nice too.

The clock has turned black and green at the beginning of the local forecast for whatever reason...I would say that it was for nighttime but it wasn't like that early this morning.

The clock has that same color scheme on the sidebar when showing the sunset time.

38

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 01:27:24 PM »

Something odd: on the HD feed, the national LDL is on, but the sidebar is still showing local info.

Does anyone think there is some potential for the top part of the sidebar, where it says "You're Watching The Weather Channel"? Maybe they could some SportsCenter-esque thing where that part shows upcoming stories being discussed, or it could be used for additional weather info.

39

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 12:41:41 PM »

OK, I know this reply is going to get buried in about 20 others, but let me give some of my observations as I was able to sit down for awhile and watch.

First, I noticed that the LOT8s for the SD and HD feed are actually slightly different!   For example, the "IS2" did not give an hourly forecast whereas the SD one did.  I guess this would make sense if they are still running on two different platforms (IS and IS2).  Also, I know someone said they weren't seeing a Weather Bulletin, but I am for the Hard Freeze Warning which is in effect.  I am not, however, seeing a warning crawl, but I thought those were only for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash floods?

Second, as I said earlier, Jim's narration is still on the IS2.  The IS, however, has no narration.  I know this was mentioned as a bug to be fixed in the future; I'm assuming the IS in SD will probably have Jim's voice as well.

Third, also as I said earlier, COX is not letterboxing the SD feed.  Thus, there is not that right sidebar on the SD feed - just the lower bar.  I wish they would just go ahead and letterbox it.

Fourth, I guess TWC doesn't think OKC has a good sense of humor, because all I have seen on the welcome screen is "Hello Oklahoma City, This is Your Weather."

Fifth, as a major disclaimer, depending on your cable provider, they may choose to show a local commercial for your area only, thus disrupting WAAT.  For example, during the commercial break, an Oklahoma-specific AARP commercial showed.  Obviously, there is no way around this, as this is the cable provider's doing, but just thought I would let some of you know in case WAAT disappears for a commercial or two.

Overall, I think they have done a good job.  I just feel like the LOT8s goes WAY to fast.  Still one-minute locals I guess...

I haven't watched the SD LF, but my HD LF definitely has the hourly forecast. Xfinity in Chicago isn't letterboxing TWC either.

I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't/don't mind the background music during the live programming at all. As long as it's kept at a soft volume level.

I really don't mind it either. It doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary, unless, of course, it gets too loud.

EDIT: To emphasize Andy's point, the SD and HD LDLs here have an entirely different set of secondary cities, which means I take back my earlier statement of cities being added.
SD: same as before relaunch (Chicago, North Aurora, Warrenville)
HD: Chicago, Cicero, Downers Grove, Joliet, Hinsdale, Elmhurst, Melrose Park

40

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 12:10:46 PM »

I'm really liking the hello text. Some more:
Free refills for every forecast.
Food. Sleep. Weather.
Wait for it… Wait for it…
Every stratocumulus has a silver lining.
Around here, this is great first date material.
Keep your friends close and your weather closer.

41

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: November 12, 2013, 11:40:12 AM »

I haven't been active lately, but the news of the update kept me coming back to the forum. It's nice to see it so active, and it's also nice to see the return of familiar faces. I haven't been here lately because I had pretty much lost interest in TWC, and because I don't have as much time on my hands as before, due to college stuff.

42

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 11:29:45 AM »

Some other hello text I've seen:
Hey Chicago, don't you just love the anticipation?
You've got plans. We've got forecasts.

So does TWC finally have a slogan again? It seems to be "It's Amazing Out There."

43

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: November 12, 2013, 11:13:17 AM »

I really like how there's local info on the HD feed now. We didn't have the IS2 before. I like how much more weather info is shown now. They added a lot more cities to the LDL; in the Chicago area, they added Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Melrose Park, and Cicero from what I've seen so far. The airport delays section lists delays for ORD (O'Hare), and presumably MDW (Midway), but what surprised me is that it also tracks MKE: General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee.


Overall, I'm really impressed with this update. I love the studio, and I really like that the whole look is coordinated. And weather during commercials is a big plus.

Just some quirks and minor issues: just before to the LF at 10:58 ET, the image (a city's skyline) was rotated 90° and was scrunched up in the right edge of the window surrounded by the LDL/sidebar, leaving most of the window just a a blank black space. Also, the background makes some of the small white text kinda hard to read on the 7-day.

44

The Game Room / Re: Lie your Butt Off

« on: June 09, 2013, 09:58:07 PM »

Yelling "Don't go in there!" at a character in a horror movie is absolutely guaranteed to make them not go in there.

45

Everything Else TWC / Re: TWC Music Themes

« on: June 09, 2013, 09:56:22 PM »

I may be wrong, but I think the DP theme is just production music.