Messages

76

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: June 30, 2014, 11:04:48 PM »

I'm not sure but I think new maps are coming. A few minutes ago I saw them using a colorful, awesome map for tracking the possible tropical storm or hurricane off the coast of south Carolina. Here's a picture of it:



I'm uploading a video of it soon and I will post it here. Sorry if this doesn't go here.

EDIT: Here's the video (sorry for the stretched screen): TWC - New maps?

I believe these were the maps they used before the relaunch.

These maps seem to appear to be very XL-like. Its about time they brought back the high quality maps! 

77

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

« on: June 27, 2014, 04:39:46 PM »

I've always wondered if they put up a warning message before the analog signal's shutdown. I'm sure this doesn't effect cable systems that are already using digital satellite signals. Supposedly, TWC previously did this to the WeatherStar III back in late 2004. I've always wanted to see video of that.

78

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: June 26, 2014, 06:18:16 PM »

I was wondering if there are any noticeable differences between the IS2 and IS2Jr since the graphics update. From what I can see, I can no longer tell the two apart at all.

I think the only noticeable difference is the wasted space on the right during the LF on the IS2. As far as graphics alone, you wouldn't notice

Also, the only difference between the IS, IS2HD, and the IS2Jr. is that the IS still has Allen Jackson's voice-over as it was used previously in versions 1-2. Allen Jackson also previously did the narrations on the XL. Jim Cantore does the voice-overs for the IS2HD and the IS2Jr.

79

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: June 25, 2014, 10:37:56 PM »

this happened almost 20 minutes ago.

That looks a lot like the green screen on my WeatherSTAR Junior unit, except since mine is decommissioned, it doesn't show any info on the LDL.

I remember a long time ago when our local WeatherStar III went into "rainbow mode."  Due to whatever technical problem, it showed the LDL on the usual dark blue background, but the rest of the screen had no text and cycled between every available color on the machine: the usual dark blue, grey, brown, and red, plus other colors The Weather Channel never used: light blue (like The Weather Network used), yellow, green...  It was interesting to watch, though disturbing at the same time because I was only getting the audio portion of the programming.

I thought that was a chromo key wall without any weather maps displayed and no one was there. Never knew the IS2 could do that whenever it loses its satellite signal.

80

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: June 24, 2014, 10:48:05 PM »

this happened almost 20 minutes ago.

Looks like someone at the control room must of having a field day with the camera switch. 

81

Programming and Graphics / Re: New TWC show: Fat Guys in the Woods

« on: June 20, 2014, 11:30:05 PM »

But of course.  So-called "reality TV" is usually among the cheapest programming that can be made, and, since it's still the "hot thing" out there, it generally attracts the most viewers from the widest possible audiences.  There's no question that a large amount of programming has little to offer in terms of culture, but it does entertain - by its very nature there's suspense built right into the program from start to finish, whether it's a competition or a big rig driver trying to cross a snow-covered highway.  And did I mention it's cheap?  No script writers, the "stars" are paid less than big Hollywood union actors, and so on.

In the case of The Weather Channel, it could continue to attract a small but loyal following of viewers who tune in periodically for weather information, plus an even smaller but very loyal following who watch the channel religiously, but that would still alienate the majority of the viewing population who would tune to the channel either very briefly and irregularly or not at all.  Or... it could fill the schedule with reality TV to attract a much wider audience that isn't interested in weather forecasts, but wants to watch reality programming... as if they don't watch already.

NBC, like the rest of the commercial media in the United States, isn't in business to "educate, inform, and entertain."  It's in business to make money, and it makes money by selling advertising time.  When you think about it, the commercials are the real reason for television, and any programming around it, which just might be "educational, informational, and entertaining," is just filler to make sure people watch the commercials.  That's why there's always so much uproar whenever some new piece of technology comes out to allow a viewer to bypass commercials.  First VCRs, then recordable DVDs, then DVRs... the more ways people have to not watch commercials, the less value advertisers think they get for their money, and the more worried the broadcasters get that they're not going to earn as much money as they have been previously.  (Many already aren't.)

I already mentioned how TLC used to be The Learning Channel.  There isn't a chance in heck they'd go back to showing educational documentaries and classroom-type programming.  Honey Boo Boo, pregnant teens, and couples rushing all over the place to get married make the network a heck of a lot more money than ad-free Cable in the Classroom programming and documentaries about the various kinds of rocks one finds underground, for example.  TLC has abandoned its roots so thoroughly I doubt too many people younger than I am even know what TLC originally stood for.  The Weather Channel seems to be veering ever closer to that same edge.  The day will come when it either just stops showing weather programming altogether and either changes its name to TWC, or The Weather Channel becomes a channel showing weather-themed reality shows, but no forecasts.  And then TWC will find its own Honey Boo Boo and be like every other network out there.

But what about live severe weather coverage? Remember what happened with "Flick and a Forecast" in 2009? Even Jim Cantore Tweeted an apology to all of their followers of his official Twitter account telling viewers that TWC didn't interrupted the movie for live severe weather coverage like what they should have.

I still think TWC should just stick with only weather-related longform and at least air it in primetime only (unless if there is severe weather). Then lead it off with two hours of live late night forecasts, and then repeat the same episodes from last night's episode of whichever long-form show they are showing during the early morning hours for the west coast viewers (unless if there is severe weather expected overnight). Anyone remember back when Storm Stories first aired in 2003? TWC had fewer longform programing back then. They even still did severe weather preemptions back then too.

As long as TWC regularly preempts their non-weather-related reality show garbage whenever when there's severe weather (especially with both DirecTV/Dish subscribers), I'm cool with that. Sure most reality shows are cheaper to produce, but as for the ad revenue part, there's also a reason why the cable/satellite industry is declining because our cable/satellite bills are rising (especially sports). Even weather.com is becoming more and more useless because of the excessive ad overkill and non-weather-related stories and biases. If TWC permanently discontinues their live coverage, most cable/satellite companies will drop TWC like crazy and NBC would of likely shut down the channel for good. I would still hate to see Weatherscan morph into another entertainment channel.

82

Programming and Graphics / Re: New TWC show: Fat Guys in the Woods

« on: June 19, 2014, 11:27:22 PM »

They don't.  Media companies today aren't that interested in very narrow topics for their channels.  They want as broad a base as possible to attract many different people, not only those who are interested in, in this case, weather forecasts.  More people = more advertising money.

Perhaps sports remain the only major exception.  Just think... TLC used to show educational programming, and now it's Honey Boo Boo and pregnant teenagers.  A&E used to be literally Arts and Entertainment.  Bravo - same thing.

But look what happened with G4 for example: when it first went on the air in 2002, it was originally a video game and technology-themed channel. After when G4 bought out TechTV in 2004, Comcast (the owners of G4) wanted to reformat as a reality-themed channel. Obviously, that concept flopped. Same thing happened with Fox Reality Channel, it too also failed in the ratings. It seems like every cable network wants to show reality television these days.

83

Programming and Graphics / Re: New TWC show: Fat Guys in the Woods

« on: June 19, 2014, 09:30:07 PM »

No matter how much we all beg and plead and get mad at TWC, these things are going to keep happening.  I'm not crazy about the name, but hey, at least it looks like it will have something to do with weather.

Plus, I don't think it would serve a major cable or satellite company well if they drop TWC permanently.  I think DirecTV probably threw in the towel and came to a compromise.  While some would disagree, I feel the ratio of people who wanted TWC on DirecTV and who didn't was 1 to 1.

But the reason why DirecTV did this was because of rising retransmission fees and even declining ratings. That's also what Dish did previously in 2010.

84

Programming and Graphics / Re: New TWC show: Fat Guys in the Woods

« on: June 19, 2014, 08:19:47 PM »

I actually hope a major cable or satellite provider would drop TWC. Dish Network did for a short time I believe in 2010, and DirecTV dropped them for a while earlier this year. Hopefully the third time would be the charm in terms of getting rid unnecessary longform programming.

I agree. NBC/Comcrap just doesn't seem to care about improving TWC.

85

Programming and Graphics / Re: New TWC show: Fat Guys in the Woods

« on: June 19, 2014, 08:04:15 PM »

I'm still upset that DirecTV brought back TWC in the first place. Dish better pull the plug next month and hopefully end up being a permanent dispute like what happened with DirecTV and G4. I'm also hoping this will create a "domino effect" with other providers dropping TWC. Dang it DirecTV, you were that close to toppling The "Weather" Channel Monopoly. 

86

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: June 17, 2014, 10:39:49 PM »

It can't be "rain fade", isn't?

87

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: June 13, 2014, 03:04:24 PM »

Really, TWC?    These graphics scare me more than Friday the 13th! 

Weather Channel SD and HD LOT8s with Friday the 13th graphics

To be fair, I actually kind of like that black cat background. Those random backgrounds kind of reminds me of what TWC did back around 1986-87 with the random backgrounds for the WeatherSTAR III. Ironically, I also have a real black cat as a pet.

88

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: June 11, 2014, 06:59:12 PM »

It's great that vocals have been permanently removed, but hopefully that doesn't mean they'll keep the same two production songs forever.

Not to mention the third production song that's used only for "Storm Alert" coverage.

89

Local Forecast / Re: General LF Discussion

« on: June 09, 2014, 10:04:38 PM »

I highly doubt the jazz music is ever coming back. A sign of corporate neglect from Comcast/NBC.

90

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

« on: June 04, 2014, 04:35:59 PM »

Nostalgia's all good and everything, but why is everyone crying over computers that are over 20 years old?  As much as I miss TWC's glory days, I'd be extremely upset if I woke up in the morning to find out that my cable operator's downgraded to anything less than an IntelliStar.  I like to look at up-to-date graphics generated by a modern-generation computer.

True that the 4000/Jr./XL's hardware was already showing its age, but I personally don't like how the IntelliStar 2 Jr.'s graphics look. I still think the IntelliStar 2 Jr. could have been better, but instead, it seems like TWC's technical engineers didn't put as much effort. It's basically like IntelliStar 2 HD's original version 1 graphics (circa 2010-October 2013), but with a "toned down, 4:3 safe version", yet most other stations are going widescreen these days. Just look at all the other cable networks. It wouldn't surprise me if TWC were to permanently drop its 4:3 cropped broadcast on their official SD feed, or else, the IntelliStar 2 Jr. and even the original IntelliStar would officially be obsolete because both models can only display their local forecast video outputs in 4:3 video. Even the original IntelliStar is already ten years old, despite that it has the latest version 3 graphics that even matches the IntelliStar 2 HD's current version 2 graphics. As for the original IntelliStar, the version 3 overhaul from last November may even be the last ever major update to its software. Yet the IntelliStar Weatherscan model is a year older than its main TWC counterpart model, and even its last major overhaul came all the way back in September 2005, yet some minor updates were made since then, including the icons that were changed in 2010, but hasn't even been updated since last November.

Either way, hopefully someday, besides the 4000 Simulator and the WeatherScan XL Simulator, there would be emulators (or "simulators") that's based off some of TWC's other legacy STARs, maybe even the current STARs too. I have nothing against modern stuff, but I am also a bit of a nostalgia bluff too since I used to watch TWC regularly back in the early 1990s (hence my username because I remember watching TWC with a WeatherSTAR III back in the early '90s up until 1993 when we first got the 4000 at the time).