Weatherscan Topic

[Tyler]

Weatherscan has disappeared from Xfinity in the Pittsburgh metro area.

[Evan2015]

Even though I’m in college now 100 miles away, I still like to keep up with what’s going on with the cable system at home and I saw their meeting agenda a couple of days ago included a “Weather Channel Renewal” section and assumed that any renewal of their TWC affiliation agreement would include the forced removal of Weatherscan. This is apparently not the case. The agreement (negotiated through the NCTC) actually extends carriage of both TWC and Weatherscan from the original cut-off date of February 28, 2019 to February 28, 2022. Also, by entering this agreement a year early, allows them to save money on buying the channels wholesale. Seems like my theory is correct in that TWC isn’t forcing anything and they’re just letting cable companies decide when to get rid of it based on viewership numbers, bandwidth concerns, overhead costs, etc. This may change in the future, but it does appear Weatherscan will live in Frankfort for a few more years.

[Mike M]

Even though I’m in college now 100 miles away, I still like to keep up with what’s going on with the cable system at home and I saw their meeting agenda a couple of days ago included a “Weather Channel Renewal” section and assumed that any renewal of their TWC affiliation agreement would include the forced removal of Weatherscan. This is apparently not the case. The agreement (negotiated through the NCTC) actually extends carriage of both TWC and Weatherscan from the original cut-off date of February 28, 2019 to February 28, 2022. Also, by entering this agreement a year early, allows them to save money on buying the channels wholesale. Seems like my theory is correct in that TWC isn’t forcing anything and they’re just letting cable companies decide when to get rid of it based on viewership numbers, bandwidth concerns, overhead costs, etc. This may change in the future, but it does appear Weatherscan will live in Frankfort for a few more years.

I think in your case in Frankfort, Weatherscan has more decent views due to it being in a lower channel number (19) and being in a lower tier. Most Comcast markets required one of the highest digital packages and had the channel in the 100s or higher; that alone (but also other reasons) didn't draw a lot of viewership.

[Evan2015]

Even though I’m in college now 100 miles away, I still like to keep up with what’s going on with the cable system at home and I saw their meeting agenda a couple of days ago included a “Weather Channel Renewal” section and assumed that any renewal of their TWC affiliation agreement would include the forced removal of Weatherscan. This is apparently not the case. The agreement (negotiated through the NCTC) actually extends carriage of both TWC and Weatherscan from the original cut-off date of February 28, 2019 to February 28, 2022. Also, by entering this agreement a year early, allows them to save money on buying the channels wholesale. Seems like my theory is correct in that TWC isn’t forcing anything and they’re just letting cable companies decide when to get rid of it based on viewership numbers, bandwidth concerns, overhead costs, etc. This may change in the future, but it does appear Weatherscan will live in Frankfort for a few more years.

I think in your case in Frankfort, Weatherscan has more decent views due to it being in a lower channel number (19) and being in a lower tier. Most Comcast markets required one of the highest digital packages and had the channel in the 100s or higher; that alone (but also other reasons) didn't draw a lot of viewership.

And that, I think, is the big takeaway. But with new owners, who knows what will happen now.

[Jonathon]

Even though I’m in college now 100 miles away, I still like to keep up with what’s going on with the cable system at home and I saw their meeting agenda a couple of days ago included a “Weather Channel Renewal” section and assumed that any renewal of their TWC affiliation agreement would include the forced removal of Weatherscan. This is apparently not the case. The agreement (negotiated through the NCTC) actually extends carriage of both TWC and Weatherscan from the original cut-off date of February 28, 2019 to February 28, 2022. Also, by entering this agreement a year early, allows them to save money on buying the channels wholesale. Seems like my theory is correct in that TWC isn’t forcing anything and they’re just letting cable companies decide when to get rid of it based on viewership numbers, bandwidth concerns, overhead costs, etc. This may change in the future, but it does appear Weatherscan will live in Frankfort for a few more years.

I think in your case in Frankfort, Weatherscan has more decent views due to it being in a lower channel number (19) and being in a lower tier. Most Comcast markets required one of the highest digital packages and had the channel in the 100s or higher; that alone (but also other reasons) didn't draw a lot of viewership.

And that, I think, is the big takeaway. But with new owners, who knows what will happen now.

Hey, maybe Weatherscan will get an upgrade! (sorry, I had to)

More than likely, they'll just leave it as is. Only change I could see is more of Cantore's narrations being added, if that hasn't already happened yet.

[texasstooge]

Even though I’m in college now 100 miles away, I still like to keep up with what’s going on with the cable system at home and I saw their meeting agenda a couple of days ago included a “Weather Channel Renewal” section and assumed that any renewal of their TWC affiliation agreement would include the forced removal of Weatherscan. This is apparently not the case. The agreement (negotiated through the NCTC) actually extends carriage of both TWC and Weatherscan from the original cut-off date of February 28, 2019 to February 28, 2022. Also, by entering this agreement a year early, allows them to save money on buying the channels wholesale. Seems like my theory is correct in that TWC isn’t forcing anything and they’re just letting cable companies decide when to get rid of it based on viewership numbers, bandwidth concerns, overhead costs, etc. This may change in the future, but it does appear Weatherscan will live in Frankfort for a few more years.

I think in your case in Frankfort, Weatherscan has more decent views due to it being in a lower channel number (19) and being in a lower tier. Most Comcast markets required one of the highest digital packages and had the channel in the 100s or higher; that alone (but also other reasons) didn't draw a lot of viewership.

Back when my market was served by Comcast, Weatherscan was (until Time Warner Cable's takeover in September 2006) also on a lower tier here in Dallas/Fort Worth. Albeit on channel 99, but anyone with standard analog cable could still receive it.

[Jonathon]

Came across a transcript of a recent Comcast shareholders meeting where the CEO was asked if Weatherscan would return to Xfinity headends:

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4180780-comcast-corp-cmcsa-ceo-brian-roberts-hosts-annual-meeting-shareholders-transcript

The juicy quote from the meeting (for those who don't want to go thru six pages):

Arthur Block

Next question. In view of the recent unusual weather and the fact that the weather channel fails to provide radar and other important local information, why can’t Comcast restore weather scan to its viewers? Seeing a crawler with local information is not adequate.

Brian Roberts

Thank you for your comment. I will pass it on to our cable division. But I don’t believe we have plans to return on weather scan at this time but thanks for the input.

Hey, at least it got a mention...although we all knew what answer to expect.

[TWCKelby]

The Weatherscan unit here on Blue Ridge got a new logo for the first time since early 2015 as of the 20th. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the placement of it though

[YoshiSTAR_41]

The Weatherscan unit here on Blue Ridge got a new logo for the first time since early 2015 as of the 20th. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the placement of it though

:O There are three different Blue Ridge logos? O_O
What were the other Blue Ridge logos (before 2015, please)?

[Evan2015]

Looks like we might be able to add another unit or two to the list of those still in operation. Suddenlink’s lineup in Prestonsburg, KY (Floyd County, well out east), as well as in Logan, WV (just across the border) both have Weatherscan still listed as available. No word on whether or not that’s the same unit, but would be nice to see another in operation here in the state! Since I’m based in eastern Kentucky now, I might try to see if I can’t try to snap a photo or two.

[crazybangles]

We can add Georgetown, SC to that list as well. I don’t think anyone else has discovered this one yet. This is the only picture of it I can find

[TWCBoy]

Do you think you know what provider it is?

[crazybangles]

I think it is a municipal provider.

[TWCKal]

I think it is a municipal provider.

Does it still have it?

[Dylan]

Are there any videos of "Weatherscan" displaying 2 "WEATHER BULLETIN" screens? I keep thinking there was one somewhere awhile back, but I wouldn't have any idea how to find it again, if it still exists.