TWC Revamp: Strong Chance Of Less Weather Coverage

[Pop Light Brown]

My idea: Dump the "Top 5" video segment. That is so pointless. They could take that time and focus on the weather in a specific region, especially if severe weather is present. Let whoever is in the media center do a tease on videos and direct them to weather.com.

[Mike M]

Hopefully they learned from their "Flick and a Forecast" fiasco last year.

They didn't.

[Zach]

Hopefully they learned from their "Flick and a Forecast" fiasco last year.

They didn't.

Whilst this is true, at least they preempted very frequently from the time of the 33% LDL disappearing through the premiere of Peter lik

[Eric]

Hopefully they learned from their "Flick and a Forecast" fiasco last year.

They didn't.

Is there something wrong with the people now in charge of TWC's programming?  I mean... is there something seriously wrong with them?

Either they are too stupid to realize what TWC's whole purpose is, or they actually made the conscious decision to remove the idea of warning people about hazardous weather and replace the channel's whole purpose with just another general entertainment format that every other cable channel has.

I feel sorry for the tiny remaining few who work there who remember what TWC used to be... and SHOULD be.

[Mike M]

I feel sorry for the tiny remaining few who work there who remember what TWC used to be... and SHOULD be.

We all should be!!

[twcfan68]

My idea: Dump the "Top 5" video segment. That is so pointless. They could take that time and focus on the weather in a specific region, especially if severe weather is present. Let whoever is in the media center do a tease on videos and direct them to weather.com.

I agree with you on that. However, instead of dumping the Top 5, why just make it the top five videos of the week and play it every Friday instead? Otherwise it just loses its meaning and freshness.

Also, why does TWC show all these episodes of Storm Stories, Cantore Stories, etc. over and over again? Is it to save money or do a lot of people actually watch those shows? It also irritates me that they sometimes show the same one several times a day. There was even a tornado warning somewhere in Nebraska and Vivian Brown had to quickly rush the Live Weather Update so It Could Happen Tomorrow could commence. I despise their off-air programming; I watch for the weather and only the weather.

[TampaMillTWC88]

My idea: Dump the "Top 5" video segment. That is so pointless. They could take that time and focus on the weather in a specific region, especially if severe weather is present. Let whoever is in the media center do a tease on videos and direct them to weather.com.

I agree with you on that. However, instead of dumping the Top 5, why just make it the top five videos of the week and play it every Friday instead? Otherwise it just loses its meaning and freshness.

Also, why does TWC show all these episodes of Storm Stories, Cantore Stories, etc. over and over again? Is it to save money or do a lot of people actually watch those shows? It also irritates me that they sometimes show the same one several times a day. There was even a tornado warning somewhere in Nebraska and Vivian Brown had to quickly rush the Live Weather Update so It Could Happen Tomorrow could commence. I despise their off-air programming; I watch for the weather and only the weather.

That disgusts me too. There were severe thunderstorm warning all over yesterday, and they didn't even bother to preempt the programming.  I understand if there isn'[t much going on, or if there are just a few thunderstorms. But when there is severe weather all over the place, with warnings, you can't interrupt these precious reruns until the weather clears up? This is so ignorant and arrogant of TWC. They so want to be a reality and entertainment network, that they'll ignore severe thunderstorm warnings in numerous states just to show another crappy rerun of Peter Lik or Storm Stories. 

[Donovan]

My idea: Dump the "Top 5" video segment. That is so pointless. They could take that time and focus on the weather in a specific region, especially if severe weather is present. Let whoever is in the media center do a tease on videos and direct them to weather.com.

I agree with you on that. However, instead of dumping the Top 5, why just make it the top five videos of the week and play it every Friday instead? Otherwise it just loses its meaning and freshness.

Also, why does TWC show all these episodes of Storm Stories, Cantore Stories, etc. over and over again? Is it to save money or do a lot of people actually watch those shows? It also irritates me that they sometimes show the same one several times a day. There was even a tornado warning somewhere in Nebraska and Vivian Brown had to quickly rush the Live Weather Update so It Could Happen Tomorrow could commence. I despise their off-air programming; I watch for the weather and only the weather.

That disgusts me too. There were severe thunderstorm warning all over yesterday, and they didn't even bother to preempt the programming.  I understand if there isn'[t much going on, or if there are just a few thunderstorms. But when there is severe weather all over the place, with warnings, you can't interrupt these precious reruns until the weather clears up? This is so ignorant and arrogant of TWC. They so want to be a reality and entertainment network, that they'll ignore severe thunderstorm warnings in numerous states just to show another crappy rerun of Peter Lik or Storm Stories. 

I think some of them just don't realize that not every place in the US has that warning scroll. If i didn't have a  phone or computer and there was a tornado warning out, I'd never know about it.

[TampaMillTWC88]

They seem to be very inconsistent with severe weather coverage. Last night, they preempted the regularly scheduled programming when severe weather was heading toward Chicago. Tonight, at 9 and 9:30 pm, they 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 while Twist of Fate is going on. They just had to show that program tonight, no matter what. Why can't they stop their programming  and show us what is happening in Kentucky!!! 

[Austin M.]

"which can be satisfied by a STAR"

If this is the case, TWC should distribute Weatherscan systems to all cable providers, not exclusive ones. How much does a Weatherscan go for, on average? Not much then the small-town ones can even buy them. I'm sick of watching the crap programming on TWC now to only see a national forecast every 10 minutes because my cable system is owned by a bunch of cheap jack es, or having to wait 30 minutes for the actual local forecast. It is either gonna be a total Weatherscan distribution or I am going mobile and computer for good. I'm done playing games, NBC.

[bobalong]

I don't have Weatherscan in my area, even though I have Comcast. My parents do have it, but that's probably because they're in a more metropolitan area. They actually stopped watching the main TWC altogether and get all their weather info from Weatherscan. Smaller towns and rural areas are at a definite disadvantage.

[WeatherWitness]

I don't know what the "real" statistics are, but if severe weather were to hit my area, I would NOT be watching TWC. Instead I would tune in to my local news station because 99.99% of the time, TWC is not talking about the storms that are affecting my area, and even if they were, they would only talk about them for a couple of seconds and talk about other storms elsewhere in the U.S. or show more long-form. I don't why TWC calls themselves the "Severe Weather Authority" when I think most people find their local news stations more reliable for severe weather coverage anyway.

[Eric]

I don't know what the "real" statistics are, but if severe weather were to hit my area, I would NOT be watching TWC. Instead I would tune in to my local news station because 99.99% of the time, TWC is not talking about the storms that are affecting my area, and even if they were, they would only talk about them for a couple of seconds and talk about other storms elsewhere in the U.S. or show more long-form. I don't why TWC calls themselves the "Severe Weather Authority" when I think most people find their local news stations more reliable for severe weather coverage anyway.

It's really impossible for a national network to cover in specific detail what's happening in one very small area.  Brief exceptions can be made for extraordinary circumstances, but, otherwise, it's really just not possible.  That's the nature of national broadcasting.

[Austin M.]

I don't have Weatherscan in my area, even though I have Comcast. My parents do have it, but that's probably because they're in a more metropolitan area. They actually stopped watching the main TWC altogether and get all their weather info from Weatherscan. Smaller towns and rural areas are at a definite disadvantage.

Right on that last part... only major areas such as prone coastal areas, tourist traps, and metropolitan areas are getting WSCANS and everybody else (except those with an Intellistar) are forced to wait usually 30 minutes to see local weather on longform...

[wxmediafan]

I would also tune into a local news station when severe weather occurs in my area.  However, I am glued to The Weather Channel when there is a severe weather outbreak elsewhere in the nation.  The Weather Channel does a fine job covering severe weather as it is happening (especially when Dr. Forbes is in).  They also have phenominal coverage of the aftermath of some of the bigger events (i.e. St. Louis, Alabama, Joplin etc.). 

Severe weather sells, no matter what kind it is.  I am pretty sure stats have been posted on this message board about ratings after blizzards and hurricanes.  People tune in.  I can understand why they call themselves "The Severe Weather Authority." (when they are on air covering it..)