Weather Channel (TWC) is a U.S. cable and satellite television network since May 2, 1982, that broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news, along with entertainment programming related to weather 24 hours a day. In addition to its programming on the cable channel, TWC also provides forecasts for terrestrial and satellite radio stations, newspapers, and websites, and maintains an extensive online presence at weather.com.
The Weather Channel debuted its high-definition simulcast on September 26, 2007. It has its headquarters in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, near the intersection of Interstates 75 and 285.
History
Read More: History of The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel was founded in 1981 by John Coleman and Frank Batten. It was launched on May 2, 1982.
Current
The Weather Channel uses special proprietary equipment that inserts local weather forecast and warning information if it is viewed on a cable TV system. The original Weather Star technology has been upgraded on larger cable systems to the IntelliStar, including Vocal Local to announce the current conditions, weather bulletins, and the detailed local forecast. Satellite, IPTV and some small cable system viewers originally saw only a roundup of local TWC forecasts for major cities across the U.S., as well as satellite and radar images, and severe weather watch and warning maps when active. However, satellite customers with newer systems or interactive receivers have the choice of 'roundups' or local forecasts. For both cable and satellite viewers, popular and smooth jazz music plays in the background during these segments. The original Weather Star technology is still in use by small cable companies that can not afford to upgrade to IntelliStar.
Local on the 8s
Since its inception, the Weather Channel has incorporated local forecasts using Weather Star computers installed at cable headends. Until 1995, the forecasts have been played at various times each hour, but are currently shown at times ending in "8", hence the title of the local forecasts is "Local on the 8s" (though local forecasts are reduced to once every half-hour when non-forecast programs are aired). With the introduction of the current IntelliSTAR system, traffic information is also incorporated alongside local weather information, in areas that traffic.com (via its TrafficPulse service) provides traffic data.
The Weather Star systems also utilize a Lower Display Line (LDL) on the bottom of the screen during local forecasts and national programming, providing current conditions for a specific location and two or three towns within 15 miles, almanac data, forecasts and (in select cities) traffic information on cable headends using the IntelliStar system and only current conditions, and forecasts on cable headends using WeatherStar XL and older models. WeatherStar units also allow the cable company to scroll a text message when in use, including the capability to broadcast severe weather advisories and warnings when severe weather occurs in a given area, displaying warnings for the county in which the WeatherStar system's cable headend is located and surrounding counties in the immediate area.
Online services
TWC provides numerous customized forecasts for online users, including home and garden and event planning forecasts. It also provides WAP access for mobile phone users, desktop widgets for quick reference by computer users, and customized weather feeds for individual websites. It follows a two-tiered service model, with the free service bearing advertisements and its pay ("Desktop Max") service lacking ads and having enhanced radar and mapping functions. Cell phone customers can even have their local forecast sent to their mobile handsets from TWC via SMS by sending a text message with their ZIP code to 42278 which spells 4cast. Other services include Yahoo!, in which the weather pages are produced by TWC.
The Weather Channel HD
The Weather Channel HD is a 1080i high definition simulcast of The Weather Channel that launched on September 26, 2007. DirecTV was the first provider to add it. At that time, no programming was actually presented in high definition, except for a national "satellite" version of the Local on the 8s. On October 1, 2007, two new high definition programs, Epic Conditions and WeatherVentures, premiered. A new high definition series, When Weather Changed History, premiered on the Weather Channel on January 6, 2008.
Throughout the final months of 2007 to the early months of 2008, various cable companies had started to add the Weather Channel HD to their cable lineups, including the Boston, MA, Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX, and Baton Rouge, LA markets. It was added to Dish Network systems on May 13, 2008. Recently, Comcast began adding the channel in some select markets like Chicago, IL. Time Warner Cable and Cablevision, both of which serve New York Metropolitan Area have also recently picked up the HD channel in late July 2008. No Weather Star currently serves the HD feed, but Cablevision New York viewers get an HD forecast produced by TWC master control in Atlanta. DirecTV added Local on the 8's to its HD feed on September 29, 2009.
TWC began studio HD programming on June 2, 2008. The new HD studio features various environmentally-friendly technologies. All of TWC's schedule (except It Could Happen Tomorrow, Full Force Nature, and older episodes of Storm Stories) is currently in HD.
, 
No comments:
Post a Comment