Less Weather Coverage, Terrible Programming

[TampaMillTWC88]

They are very inconsistent with severe weather coverage. Last night, they preempted the regularly scheduled programming when severe weather was heading toward Chicago. Tonight, Paul Goodloe and Dr. Greg Forbes rushed through the update, even though there is severe weather with tornado damage in Kentucky as we speak. All I see is some dinky weather alert below the screen. They wouldn't even bother to interrupt that "Twist of Fate" program, no matter what.  News flash, TWC, there may be a real life twist of fate going on right now! This is looking like another Flick and a Forecast fiasco again.  Why can't they stop their programming now, and show us what is happening in Kentucky!!!   

[Donovan]

While watching You Weather Today this morning, I thought to myself that I actually like some of the things they've done--like a short business segment, some news, and top weather stories like the fires in Arizona. Sure I do miss the old TWC some when it was just all about weather, but time goes on and things change. They need to keep up with the "hip" new technology and all that. Like Patrick said, it's just a fact of life now that NBC has different ideas of how to run the channel, but I'm still going to be open to their changes.

I actually like the ideas of the short news segments in the morning. It keeps me from having to watch something else and its kinda like a "one stop shop" for whats happening now in the morning. The only thing I don't like is that the commercials are too long and that is space where weather coverage could be. IMO, things have gotten somewhat better over time since they initially introduced this new way of doing things.

[bobalong]

There is a tornado warning just south of St. Louis but TWC is not pre empting the longform. I agree with the earlier posts, they have been very inconsistent with their coverage of severe weather. In a season like this where severe tstorms happen almost every night TWC has really demonstrated how unreliable it has become. The old TWC we loved isn't coming back, so the best option now is local TV or NOAA radio.

[TampaMillTWC88]

There is a tornado warning just south of St. Louis but TWC is not pre empting the longform. I agree with the earlier posts, they have been very inconsistent with their coverage of severe weather. In a season like this where severe tstorms happen almost every night TWC has really demonstrated how unreliable it has become. The old TWC we loved isn't coming back, so the best option now is local TV or NOAA radio.

TWC doesn't want to "waste time" covering live weather anymore. It is cheaper and more convenient for them to repeat programming, rather than break into the programming and actually cover the severe weather. We might as well get used to it.  TWC will only cover severe weather when they feel like it.

[Donovan]

There is a tornado warning just south of St. Louis but TWC is not pre empting the longform. I agree with the earlier posts, they have been very inconsistent with their coverage of severe weather. In a season like this where severe tstorms happen almost every night TWC has really demonstrated how unreliable it has become. The old TWC we loved isn't coming back, so the best option now is local TV or NOAA radio.

TWC doesn't want to "waste time" covering live weather anymore. It is cheaper and more convenient for them to repeat programming, rather than break into the programming and actually cover the severe weather. We might as well get used to it.  TWC will only cover severe weather when they feel like it.

Well, TWC really shouldn't always be the one you count on for weather, although they should cover it. They probably see best that people watch their local weather stations for localized severe coverage.

[SBar54321]

I've watched TWC since pretty much it's inception. I don't mind some of the news segments in the middle of a program, but it no longer interests me to watch regularly because they DO NOT cover weather anymore.   
I live in Alabama near the tornado ravaged area and we have very severe storms ALOT. They don't even mention it most of the time and when they do, it's so hurried it's unwatchable. It seems like they're going for the glamour girl look and not the weather reporting that put them on the map. 
They let the very good meteorologists go in favor of the babe types and I don't like it, so I don't watch. JMHO

[Trevor]

I've watched TWC since pretty much it's inception. I don't mind some of the news segments in the middle of a program, but it no longer interests me to watch regularly because they DO NOT cover weather anymore.   
I live in Alabama near the tornado ravaged area and we have very severe storms ALOT. They don't even mention it most of the time and when they do, it's so hurried it's unwatchable. It seems like they're going for the glamour girl look and not the weather reporting that put them on the map. 
They let the very good meteorologists go in favor of the babe types and I don't like it, so I don't watch. JMHO

I'll agree. Another thing is the '60 Second Forecast'. While it's a good idea, I feel like my forecast is rushed....normally they say nothing about Memphis or they say something like "Memphis coming in at 100", before they have to hurry on to the next city.


Oh, and another thing. During the LWU, they always say "Well, while you're watching Twist of Fate, we're watching a Tornado Warning!"....like it's nothing.

[TWCJim]

TWC's decision to show less weather coverage has really pissed me off also 

I'll tell ya one thing, if I was in charge of TWC's programming, I would cancel all of the long-form shows and revert back to 24-hour weather coverage, the way it was meant to be. That outta piss off the guys over at NBC 

[TampaMillTWC88]

I've watched TWC since pretty much it's inception. I don't mind some of the news segments in the middle of a program, but it no longer interests me to watch regularly because they DO NOT cover weather anymore.   
I live in Alabama near the tornado ravaged area and we have very severe storms ALOT. They don't even mention it most of the time and when they do, it's so hurried it's unwatchable. It seems like they're going for the glamour girl look and not the weather reporting that put them on the map. 
They let the very good meteorologists go in favor of the babe types and I don't like it, so I don't watch. JMHO

I'll agree. Another thing is the '60 Second Forecast'. While it's a good idea, I feel like my forecast is rushed....normally they say nothing about Memphis or they say something like "Memphis coming in at 100", before they have to hurry on to the next city.


Oh, and another thing. During the LWU, they always say "Well, while you're watching Twist of Fate, we're watching a Tornado Warning!"....like it's nothing.

It's obvious that from Monday through Saturday, forget about any type of actual weather coverage past 5pm, besides two dinky hours of Weather Center two hours apart from one another. TWC has sent a message to all of us that they are a weather-related reality/news/entertainment channel now, and don't rely on them for severe weather or weather coverage in general anymore. TWC hopped on the reality/entertainment bandwagon like how MTV, TLC, VH1, A&E, Discovery, etc. hopped on it. Even when there are tornado warnings, they won't cover it during the week. They'd rather show a played-out episode of Storm Stories, Twist of Fate or Peter Lik, rather than break into programming. I haven't seen a preemption in close to a month now, and I don't look for or expect that to change any time soon. I would ignore TWC's primetime until Sunday night, which is the only night you can get real weather coverage throughout the night.

[Localonthe8s]

TampaMill, remember this: severe weather sells.

If they preempt programming, they're expecting ratings/viewership to go up from this coverage, so they can rack up the $$.

[Mike M]

If they preempt programming, they're expecting ratings/viewership to go up from this coverage, so they can rack up the $$.

Money money money.... it's all TV networks care about these days

[Zach]

Its unfortunate that as the digital world (internet) continues to grow, the analog world (television and radio) continues to lessen.. my theory about them not preempting is that their TV ratings are low compared to their online services.. Maybe more preempting would happen if their TV services rated higher than their online services..

Yes, they put too much emphasis on weather.com in their recent promos, but with this economy, they probably have no choice to, as OCMs need less time for them to keep up with payments and so they do not have to worry so much about growing bankrupt. As Mike said, their worry is money, and the only way to attract money is to add more interesting things to channel that will appeal the average viewer, such as Peter Lik's show.

[wxmediafan]

If they preempt programming, they're expecting ratings/viewership to go up from this coverage, so they can rack up the $$.

Money money money.... it's all TV networks care about these days

As should any business.  Money is kind of an important thing in any business.  I think it always has been about money.  Viewing habits have changed dramatically over the past decade plus.  More and more people spend less and less time watching TV, so when they do, these networks need something that will attract them.  I know many of you don't like hearing this, but "reality" sells.  Shows like Storm Stories and Peter Lik are probably what people want to see, and it's obviously working for TWC.

[bobalong]

If they preempt programming, they're expecting ratings/viewership to go up from this coverage, so they can rack up the $$.

Money money money.... it's all TV networks care about these days

As should any business.  Money is kind of an important thing in any business.  I think it always has been about money.  Viewing habits have changed dramatically over the past decade plus.  More and more people spend less and less time watching TV, so when they do, these networks need something that will attract them.  I know many of you don't like hearing this, but "reality" sells.  Shows like Storm Stories and Peter Lik are probably what people want to see, and it's obviously working for TWC.

TWC is a business, and in order for a business to be successful it needs to respond to what the consumer market wants. And now the market wants reality TV. Those of us who are into weather and want a live 24 hour broadcast devoted to it are just a niche. The loss of live weather coverage isn't an accident, TWC knows exactly what it's doing. Unlike back in the 80s when they started, thanks to the internet and other info sources people now have many other ways to get their local weather. Still I think TWC should cover severe weather since that was their original mission, and that even during what live coverage remains their quality has gone downhill, and that's not about to change. A few nights ago I caught a "Live Update" where the OCM basically said "There are big storms in Missouri and Tennessee. You know what, you want more info go to weather.com. Now back to Tornado Diary." The message was clear: "Don't bother looking to us for storm info anymore, go online or elsewhere."