Messages

16

Programming and Graphics / The Weather Channel Acquired by Entertainment Studios

« on: March 22, 2018, 11:27:01 AM »

Variety reporting this morning that Weather Group has been acquired from Comcast, Bain Capital and Blackstone Group by Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios.

http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/byron-allen-weather-channel-acquire-entertainment-studios-1202733511/

17

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: When will all Xfinity Weatherscan units be back?

« on: March 22, 2018, 11:24:06 AM »

But why? I am really sure they will come back with new icons (probably the icons used on the Intellistar).

The units have long been uninstalled and likely shipped back to Atlanta. It’s been judged by Comcast to be an unjustifiable cost and for that reason, Weatherscan won’t be coming back.

18

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: March 22, 2018, 11:19:56 AM »

Even though I’m in college now 100 miles away, I still like to keep up with what’s going on with the cable system at home and I saw their meeting agenda a couple of days ago included a “Weather Channel Renewal” section and assumed that any renewal of their TWC affiliation agreement would include the forced removal of Weatherscan. This is apparently not the case. The agreement (negotiated through the NCTC) actually extends carriage of both TWC and Weatherscan from the original cut-off date of February 28, 2019 to February 28, 2022. Also, by entering this agreement a year early, allows them to save money on buying the channels wholesale. Seems like my theory is correct in that TWC isn’t forcing anything and they’re just letting cable companies decide when to get rid of it based on viewership numbers, bandwidth concerns, overhead costs, etc. This may change in the future, but it does appear Weatherscan will live in Frankfort for a few more years.

I think in your case in Frankfort, Weatherscan has more decent views due to it being in a lower channel number (19) and being in a lower tier. Most Comcast markets required one of the highest digital packages and had the channel in the 100s or higher; that alone (but also other reasons) didn't draw a lot of viewership.

And that, I think, is the big takeaway. But with new owners, who knows what will happen now.

19

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: March 22, 2018, 08:51:10 AM »

Even though I’m in college now 100 miles away, I still like to keep up with what’s going on with the cable system at home and I saw their meeting agenda a couple of days ago included a “Weather Channel Renewal” section and assumed that any renewal of their TWC affiliation agreement would include the forced removal of Weatherscan. This is apparently not the case. The agreement (negotiated through the NCTC) actually extends carriage of both TWC and Weatherscan from the original cut-off date of February 28, 2019 to February 28, 2022. Also, by entering this agreement a year early, allows them to save money on buying the channels wholesale. Seems like my theory is correct in that TWC isn’t forcing anything and they’re just letting cable companies decide when to get rid of it based on viewership numbers, bandwidth concerns, overhead costs, etc. This may change in the future, but it does appear Weatherscan will live in Frankfort for a few more years.

20

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: When will all Xfinity Weatherscan units be back?

« on: December 29, 2017, 04:38:48 PM »

When Weatherscan is gone in a certain area, it's going to be gone for good. For many cable companies, especially the big ones like Comcast and Spectrum, they're looking to save as much money as possible. Weatherscan was on the expanded or preferred tiers in most of the areas it was in and other programming deals forcing cable companies to move channels to a more penetrated tier (think FXX, FOX Business, any of the AMC channels) often decreased the value of those tiers to the point where it just wasn't worth paying for anymore. As people dropped expanded cable subscriptions or even cable altogether, it became an unjustifiable cost to keep Weatherscan running. If you've got a phone, you've got the current temperature and forecast at your fingertips for free, you don't need to spend $120 on cable every month for that. And even now, The Weather Channel itself made Weatherscan lose value even more because you can get the same (and sometimes a better) forecast on the LDL if you have cable, plus TWC can show you advertising around that weather information that pays their bills.

If you've got Weatherscan, I'll say you don't have time left. Similar to when TWC retired the legacy STAR systems a few years ago, record Weatherscan while you still have it because once it's gone, it is not going to come back.

21

TWC Fan Art / Re: Evan's Art

« on: September 16, 2017, 06:41:49 PM »

It's been over 5 years since I've posted some fanart, this is kind of a "relaunch" of Weatherscan in 1080i HD that I've been tinkering with for the past couple of months. I also have a red "severe weather alert" version that's mostly but not quite done.

Though, spoiler alert, that picture in the background isn't from here, rather I took it along the Potomac in 2011.

22

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: September 16, 2017, 06:27:01 PM »

So when my cable company re-did their major contracts in 2010, they signed a then-10-year deal for rights to Weatherscan. Then, in 2015, they signed a new agreement to carry The Weather Channel and at that same time, opted into the NCTC agreement for Weatherscan, where they previously dealt directly with TWC. It would appear that that agreement is up on February 28, 2019. I'd be interested to see if TWC is simply letting the units continue on until the last carriage agreement expires and not including it in new ones or if they will begin to actively retire them over the coming months.

23

General Discussion / Re: Death of One of our own Members

« on: August 03, 2017, 09:42:19 PM »

Horribly sad news.

24

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: March 13, 2017, 12:18:29 AM »

Not sure when it happened but looks like the radar/satellite loop now has frozen precip when applicable.

25

Programming and Graphics / Re: TWC on Election Day

« on: November 07, 2016, 06:33:38 PM »

I saw a promo for it this morning, sounds like the smooth jazz is just going to be same tracks they've been using during smooth jazz days, not that that's a problem.

26

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: July 16, 2016, 11:23:49 AM »

This is very much welcome news! I should have thought to check last night when we were under a severe thunderstorm warning? Was it on the main audio feed or the DVS/SAP feed?

It was on the main audio feed. I also believe they switched to the same feed the IS2 uses, as the weather bulletins are phrased the exact way as the IS2 now. The "F"'s are still omitted on the 36-48 hour forecast, however.

Also, Airport Delays now come from Flightaware.com instead of the FAA. While I don't mind the change it would be nice if half the delay info wasn't blank.

Just wondering, when did they get rid of the airports on the ticker? You know: "Louisville Airport: 80° Cloudy, No Delay"

27

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: July 15, 2016, 11:45:18 PM »

Weatherscan now reads alerts on the weather bulletins (instead of just using the generic message). Video to come.

This is very much welcome news! I should have thought to check last night when we were under a severe thunderstorm warning? Was it on the main audio feed or the DVS/SAP feed?

Also noticed that the copyright changed during the quarter hour segments. All references to The Weather Channel are gone and have been replaced with "Weather Group Television" (i.e. "Weatherscan is brought to you by Weather Group Television and Frankfort Plant Board Cable"). Looks like "Weather Group Television" is the name of what used to be The Weather Company's TV division. (Apologies if this is posted somewhere else around here, I don't visit often.)

Glad to see the channel at least getting some attention.

btw, here's Weather Group Television's logo: http://weathergroup.com/sites/default/files/images/weathergrouplogo.jpg

28

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: July 01, 2016, 02:38:34 PM »

At this rate, my general feeling is that Local Now is obviously the successor to the Weatherscan service but for at least the near future, they'll operate concurrently. Even up to last summer, TWC was still signing agreements with cable providers and co-ops that included a Weatherscan clause. The channel is pretty cheap, even with maintenance of 13 year old computers. The way I see it is pretty much in line with what someone around here said a few years ago. Weatherscan will continue, as is, no major changes until all the machines stop running or so few are in operation that TWC can't justify the cost anymore. Even with the migration to online weather information and Local Now, Weatherscan remains a very popular service when available to subscribers. I mean here, the channel gets numbers on par with ESPN, that also makes it a very enticing option for businesses who want to advertise.

So yes, the channel has to go off-air eventually, just not for a few more years at the least.

29

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: April 07, 2016, 07:18:34 PM »

Not a glitch, but removing of old branding from what I've heard.

"Old branding" huh? What's old about it other than maybe the shading of the logo?

30

Local Forecast / Re: Smooth Jazz Return!

« on: April 02, 2016, 12:02:04 PM »

What is the reason behind their love of the production music? Would it cost extra money to play anything else?

I imagine they'd have to pay the record companies rights fees to air the music, hence why I think TWC's only airing music from the compilation albums they released ~8 years ago.