Messages

136

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

« on: May 09, 2014, 10:52:50 AM »

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.

Once upon a time, every cable company that offered TWC was required to install a WeatherStar.  I wonder if that's still the case, though I can't see why such a requirement would be taken away, even considering TWC's massive growth in non-weather programming to attract "a wider audience."

137

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

« on: May 08, 2014, 12:17:53 AM »

They had a good run... a quarter of a century of a good run... but the time has come for something better.  Life's like that sometimes. 

I'm still nostalgic when I see old videos from The Weather Channel on YouTube.  I miss those days, but I also don't want my cable company to install a WeatherStar 4000 tomorrow, either.  That would be the source of much unhappiness.

138

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: Bright House Networks Tampa now letterboxing TWC HD on SD

« on: April 25, 2014, 07:16:41 PM »

Bright House in Daytona Beach started doing that last year.  It's not TWC that's doing it, since they still do offer a SD feed; it's Bright House.

139

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: April 16, 2014, 10:33:51 PM »

Apparently TWC is giving out something free for getting them back on DirectTV.
http://www.weather.com/thankyou.html

I wonder what it could be? I hope its free TWC-related memorabilia. Even though I don't watch TWC as much as I used to, I've still always wanted to own some official TWC memorabilia. Maybe its a free TWC-themed tote bag? Or even a free TWC-themed raincoat? I would love to have that in my collection!

About 20 years ago or so I had a TWC-themed weather station mounted on my front porch: rain gauge, thermometer, and a wind vane.  Unfortunately, it was made very cheaply and broke by the end of the first year. 

140

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

« on: April 07, 2014, 11:49:11 PM »

Should the part where it shows the cable/satellite provider be returned though?

That was simultaneous with the channel number.  Again, you got a pretty picture to go with it, but why eat up time on the schedule needlessly?  Don't most people know what their cable/satellite company is?  Do these companies need that much "free advertising" to subscribers they already have?

141

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

« on: April 03, 2014, 06:48:19 PM »

True, but it could help people report STAR problems to their cable company, maybe. It is attractive, you do have to admit!

Two very good points.  I agree with you 100% on the first one, but I'm sure there must be another place they can put the ID.  How about in the corner of the screen during the clock segment of the local forecast?

142

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

« on: April 02, 2014, 04:41:21 PM »

I don't think it's terribly necessary anymore, despite its attractive appearance.  30 years ago it had a function, since not all cable boxes back then displayed channel numbers, and it was helpful to remind people what channel to change to when they wanted to watch The Weather Channel.  Today, in the age of on-screen programming guides and hundreds upon hundreds of channels, I don't think it serves the same function.

Considering TWC airs only 60-second local forecasts now and so much long-form programming, maybe crowding the brodacast time with mere eye candy isn't the best choice to make.

143

Local Forecast / Re: Buy a Weatherstar XL at my house?!

« on: March 30, 2014, 12:15:49 AM »

I know this topic hasn't been posted in for a long time, but if you were to connect the WeatherSTAR to the satellite and receive a video in signal, would TWC notice something like that? Just wondering? 

No, The Weather Channel has no way of knowing who receives their signal on what equipment... unless said equipment answers back to them.  Unless said Star is phones home somehow, then, no, they're not going to know.

144

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Dave Schwartz Returns

« on: March 14, 2014, 04:41:36 PM »

That's wonderful news.  I've never heard of a laid-off OCM returning to the air, but it will be so nice to see him on TWC again!

145

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: March 10, 2014, 02:00:33 PM »

I do enjoy having the sun out later, and the transition to daylight savings time is always easier for me than the transition from, despite (or, perhaps, because of) losing an hour of sleep.  That said, I'm also tired of the changes, and "standard" time only lasts about four months now.  Personally, I'd like to see the U.S. do what some other countries have started doing and just stay on daylight savings time year-round.

146

TWC and your Cable Company / Re: DirecTV Dropping TWC

« on: March 08, 2014, 12:16:17 AM »

You've got Jim Cantore saying that TWC is a life-saving network, providing up to the minute information. Yet when TWC was on DirecTV, you would not get local weather information on any severe weather alerts such as watches or warnings due to the non-locality of Satellite, unless you paid to have local information based on your zip code.

You had to pay extra for that?!

147

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: March 03, 2014, 11:14:37 PM »

Why is it that sometimes my TV guide will show on one channel "[Channel Name] Programming" for a few hours? Example: On Comedy Central it says "Comedy Central Programming" from 6AM to 4PM this Tuesday. Is my cable headend really that lazy to obtain listings for TV shows that will air throughout a particular programming block? 

It's probably because whichever listings provider your cable company uses hasn't received any information about the channel's programming for that time from the channel itself.

148

General Weather Chat / Re: Archival doppler radar data

« on: March 01, 2014, 07:26:14 PM »

YouTube, believe it or not, has a large collection of radar and satellite loops from various storms.

149

WeatherSTAR Tech Support / Re: Severe Weather Alerts

« on: February 23, 2014, 10:31:03 PM »

I agree.  Despite all its hype for providing coverage during severe weather, the weather bulletin crawls aren't nearly as prominent or "urgent" as they once were, but just a minor addition to an already-busy screen.

Well, I'm glad it's still there, but I wish the print was larger. I hope there's still a tone alert on mine, because we haven't been under any warnings, except Winter Storm Warnings.

My county was under four tornado warnings and (at least) two severe thunderstorm warnings today.  No tone.  No dual feed, either.

150

WeatherSTAR Tech Support / Re: Severe Weather Alerts

« on: February 22, 2014, 11:33:17 PM »

I agree.  Despite all its hype for providing coverage during severe weather, the weather bulletin crawls aren't nearly as prominent or "urgent" as they once were, but just a minor addition to an already-busy screen.