Promos: great.
News updates: Expected. I actually had this idea and nearly threw it in my letter to Geoffrey Darby. MSNBC's news presented by someone on Morning Joe, and then your TWC national forecast from Steph/Al/Mike/whoever is working that day. Even a small CNBC Market Wrap-style item with a CNBC anchor for a few seconds with your financial headlines before the markets open.
Premise: BAAAAD. See this blurb from my favorite cable trade mag:
"Since acquiring the Weather Channel in a $3.5 billion deal with Landmark Communications last July, the partners have been retooling the service. The channel had previously been much more focused on straight weather forecasting. The partnership is trying to broaden the programming to encompass storytelling around the subject matter and extend into long-form shows - one way of getting viewers and advertisers to stick around."
We hope they fail. While it probably is lucrative for advertisers....no way.