Messages

1531

General Discussion / Re: When did you start watching The Weather Channel?

« on: August 08, 2010, 09:19:20 PM »

I always woundered what had happened durring the Local Forecasts if the local WeatherSTAR fails back in 1982-85.

It's written somewhere on the "TWC Classics" homepage, but I believe it was around 1987 or 1988 when the earliest version of "Travel Cities Forecast" appeared on the national feed "underneath" the WeatherStar.  Back then, it was just a black screen with white text that literally appeared line by line and scrolled up - nothing physically attractive at all, even by WeatherStar III standards.  (And it didn't look like it was Star technology that was producing this.)  It quickly mellowed out into the WeatherStar 4000-style text version, before converting to the graphics version at the same time the local WeatherStar 4000 text "Travel Cities Forecast" became the graphic "Travel Forecast for..." page.

Off the top of my head, I'm trying to think when this was replaced with specially-produced maps that were broadcast on the national feed.  1995 at the absolute latest, I believe.

Oh, and how about "Tri-State Weather" and "Prime Time Tonight"?  I always found myself hoping for a Star failure at :27 and :57 past the hour.  And, yes, sometimes it happened!   Amazing to think that TWC could devote THREE minutes to a local forecast back then!!

1532

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: August 08, 2010, 09:14:08 PM »

In 1990 Marshall Sease hosted "Force Four," a truly fantastic documentary about Hurricane Hugo.  They aired it so many times that year that I practically had the show memorized by heart, but it was so well put together that it was worth watching over and over again.  That, and these were the days when The Weather Channel only made a documentary or two a year, so they were always something to look forward to.

Within a year, maybe two, maximum, of Hurricane Andrew striking, TWC replayed "Force Four," with a notice before the program, and after commercial breaks, that it was produced before Hurricane Andrew.

Why am I writing this?   Because it's the earliest "this program was produced for..." memory from TWC I have, and because "Force Four" was such a good program!

Ah... "those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end..."

1533

General Discussion / Re: When did you start watching The Weather Channel?

« on: August 07, 2010, 07:29:09 PM »

1985. Cable was installed in my neighborhood, I noticed there was a Weather Channel and I started watching. There were some really nice backgrounds used during the locals in the 1986-1987 general time period (some stationary, others in motion) until they were later discontinued.

Finally... someone who's been watching longer than I have!

As I understand it, the backgrounds were discontinued because many people found it difficult to read the WeatherStar III's text over them.  However, I think the backgrounds were also for the benefit of (the few, at the time) satellite viewers or those whose WeatherStar was malfunctioning.  Back then, there wasn't the "Travel Cities Forecast" on the national feed, so, without the backgrounds, you just saw a black picture while hearing the local forecast music (and narration!).

1534

General Discussion / Re: Human on the NOAA Radio

« on: August 01, 2010, 09:33:32 PM »

I'll readily admit to occasionally listening to my weather radio for "leisure."  However, a feed of electronic voices chattering away in the bathroom... I'd start using the hedge out back.

We could get a Sirius XM feed of the nonstop 90s channel, but then some of you would start moaning about government spending....

Do you get FM radio where you live?  Last I checked, that's free... and not as monotonous as weather radio.

1535

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Apparently...a former OCM has stayed in Atlanta

« on: August 01, 2010, 08:55:30 PM »

Good for her!  She was certainly one of my very favorite "classic OCMs" from my earliest days watching TWC, and her absence is very obvious even today.

1536

General Discussion / Re: Human on the NOAA Radio

« on: August 01, 2010, 08:52:37 PM »

We had a feed of the Weatheradio from Pittsburgh in the bathroom

I'll readily admit to occasionally listening to my weather radio for "leisure."  However, a feed of electronic voices chattering away in the bathroom... I'd start using the hedge out back.

1537

Local Forecast / Re: Weatherstar 3000

« on: August 01, 2010, 08:47:28 PM »

Thanks for posting!  Wow - talk about nostalgia!  I remember growing up with the WeatherStar III!  It's amazing that any cable company would keep this piece of equipment in use right up into the 2000s!

The very last time I remember seeing a WeatherStar III in use was in the mid 1990s in the middle of nowhere in rural New Hampshire.

1538

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: August 01, 2010, 08:41:47 PM »

I just saw a commercial on TWC telling me to vote Jack Jackson for Missouri State Senator......why was this on TWC? 

This was seen on DirecTV.

Confusing......

EDIT: It's confusing because it was shown on the national feed, not that it was shown on TWC.

It sounds like a local insert, though I honestly didn't know that was possible on DirecTV.  I highly doubt a Missouri state senator would pay for a commercial to run in 49 states it didn't need to run in.

1539

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Betty Davis - Departure

« on: July 31, 2010, 01:20:36 PM »

Wow this is sad, I wouldn't have expected this. Was there any mention of the reason for her leave?

Probably just the fact that they're hiring all these new OCMs,so they're gonna start laying off the old ones.

So... the average length of employment (with a very small number of exceptions) is now going to be a couple of years at maximum? 

1540

General Discussion / Re: Human on the NOAA Radio

« on: July 31, 2010, 11:32:24 AM »

Last week a severe thunderstorm watch was broadcast by a human voice.  Actually, the update several hours later was also done by a human.  All other voices were computerized.

1541

General Discussion / Re: When did you start watching The Weather Channel?

« on: July 30, 2010, 10:29:30 AM »

Apparently in 1982. My babysitter turned it on all the time and she said I used to sit there and watch it. Now I can blame her for my weather obsession. At least I know why now.

Well... you beat me!!  Actually, I'm about a month or so younger than The Weather Channel. 

1542

General Discussion / Re: When did you start watching The Weather Channel?

« on: July 29, 2010, 07:23:40 PM »

It's very interesting to read about how all of you started watching The Weather Channel.  However, all of you are also making me feel very old... 

1543

Weatherscan Discussion / Re: Weatherscan Topic

« on: July 27, 2010, 08:38:39 PM »

Dish has been internally testing Weatherscan, and requested the font on the crawl be easier to read. The solution to that was to change from Interstate Condensed to Interstate Bold.

It's a good change.

1544

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 25, 2010, 07:51:45 PM »

Look what I found!!!!

http://www.goelvis.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/weather-report.jpg

Just those lows are too hot for me.  The highs... let's just say I'd melt into a big ol' pile of goo.

1545

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 24, 2010, 06:43:11 PM »

The change: a brighter blue background for the day, temperature, and conditions.