NBC turning the Weather Channel into Weather Plus 2.0?

[nathannah]

It seems like it now that they've decided to change around the graphics again. Now if you have the SD cable feed you get to have a beautifully squashed picture in the top 2/3rds of the screen, along with a rotating radar and five-day planners that are like a reduced "Local on the 8's" on a very-increased bottom 1/3rd graphic which throws out the clock and is useless. Where I am the rotating cities are only ten miles away from each other so it's looping the same conditions over again.

It looks like the TV Guide Channel, and it's beyond ridiculous to look at since you can now only fit so much on the upper 2/3rds of the screen. I already loathed the decision to do most of the forecasts in front of the dim large screen, so this just adds to the frustration with what NBC is doing with the channel.

 

[KML0224]

Thanks for the warning about The Weather Channel. WVIT-DT 30-2 of New Britain/Hartford still runs the generic Weather Plus service, with the looping temps and radar, with the nominal E/I programming they run on Sundays. Maybe that's because they're still owned by NBC? (Weather Plus, not the E/I stuff.)

 

[Bengalsfan]

NBC is fast on the road to making the Weather Channel irrelevant. Late evening is usually when I would check TWC for tomorrow's forecast, however it seems they are beginning to junk up the evening with "reality" weather shows. I don't even bother checking them anymore since it seems when I want to know the weather, they have some stupid show like Cantorie Stories, or It could happen tomorrow or Storm Stories. I can get it straight from the horse's mouth at weather.gov.

 

[imhomerjay]

Technology made the Weather Chanel irrelevant for the most part.

 

[BRNout]

Technology made the Weather Chanel irrelevant for the most part.

That doesn't mean that NBC-Universal has to continually do stupid things to the programming in order to expedite that process. Not everyone has a laptop with them all the time - TWC has always been a convenient way to get some weather coverage.

In this way, NBC continues to prove how not all change is good - even while their news division busily works to cover that concept up. :

 

[imhomerjay]

That doesn't mean that NBC-Universal has to continually do stupid things to the programming in order to expedite that process. Not everyone has a laptop with them all the time - TWC has always been a convenient way to get some weather coverage.

In this way, NBC continues to prove how not all change is good - even while their news division busily works to cover that concept up. :

Didn't say everyone does have a laptop (but the growing number of smart phones, etc., pretty much mean we're headed in that direction); but you can't cater to the luddites forever. Given that the channel itself is generally delivered via satellite or cable, it's quite likely most people in a location where they can access the channel also have a computer--or similar device--nearby. Watching the weather in Omaha may appeal to some small segment of the population, but for many folks, they need to know something more immediate.

Pretending it's 1985 isn't exactly the best strategy....and I'd be hard pressed to be worried about a couple of message board posters when deciding what to do or not to do.

 

[benwolf]

NBC is fast on the road to making the Weather Channel irrelevant. Late evening is usually when I would check TWC for tomorrow's forecast, however it seems they are beginning to junk up the evening with "reality" weather shows. I don't even bother checking them anymore since it seems when I want to know the weather, they have some stupid show like Cantorie Stories, or It could happen tomorrow or Storm Stories. I can get it straight from the horse's mouth at weather.gov.

At least the example you mention has SOMETHING to do with weather. The most irritating example of NBC's clumsy way of self-promotion is when Al Roker wastes valuable time in the morning playing (unfunny) excerpts of Jimmy Fallon's show and taped interviews of actors, from NBC shows very few people watch. NBC's MO is to turn all outlets, including their Nightly News, into a promotional vehicle for their shows, but they don't even know how to do THAT well.

 

[BRNout]

Pretending it's 1985 isn't exactly the best strategy....and I'd be hard pressed to be worried about a couple of message board posters when deciding what to do or not to do.

Homer, every change is not a good change and NBC's handling of the Weather Channel has been absurd. I don't wish to see TWC as it was in 1985 or 1995; personally i think it was at it's best in about 2006. It has accelerated downhill ever since NBC-U has taken over.

Your characterization of people who don't like what conglomerates do to channels when ruining them as "luddites" really has me ticked off this morning. I haven't seen any posters in this thread who meet that definition. Rather, I see people who are observant enough to deduce that NBC is making fundamental mistakes that are ruining the channel.

What if McDonald's decided to start substituting soy for beef in their hamburgers - and trying to pawn them off as 'better than ever' when clearly they tasted like crap? Would you still be referring to those who complain about it as "luddites" who want to world to be as it was in 1985 (which was a pretty good year, actually)? Or would you accept it as constructive criticism and consider the concept that maybe it was a bad business move? A mistake? Businesses make those, you know.

Well, right now NBC is serving up a crap sandwich to the public that they're calling The Weather Channel and trying to pass it off as Grade A beef. It's gone downhill. We're crying foul. It's justified. Deal with it.

 

[imhomerjay]

Aw, ticked off over a discussion of TV channel? Sorry, it’s easy to forget how that angries up the blood sometimes.

As for imaginary people complaining about a soy swap at McDonald’s, I probably wouldn’t be calling them luddites, as I’m not sure where tofu and technology have all that much in common. (And since I detest the taste of their burgers, I might find tofu a healthy improvement.)

If something isn’t performing all that well, sticking with the business plan just because a few…um….folks who are resistant to anything in TV that dares change is hardly justification. In the bigger picture, it’s impossible to offer anything that appeals to everyone. Someone will always, inevitably dislike/nitpick every single thing you do. And guess what..some will like it, find it useful/functional, what have you. A summary of additional information at the bottom of the screen (or bottom and side in the case of HD) at may increase relevance to me when they’re talking about what’s happening in places that aren’t of personal interest—you know, keeping my attention longer while the programming up top appeals to someone else.

Yes, indeed, adding information about the local, um, weather, sure is an illogical idea. As TVs get larger in general, adding more items to the screen is hardly surprising (and sorry to the folks at Majestic Oaks that the 13-inch black and white Zenith in the community room isn’t bigger).

We live in a multi-tasking world. Screens get busier as attention spans get shorter. It's reality. Some of us can handle it. Deal with it, indeed.

 

[azumanga]

What if McDonald's decided to start substituting soy for beef in their hamburgers - and trying to pawn them off as 'better than ever' when clearly they tasted like crap? Would you still be referring to those who complain about it as "luddites" who want to world to be as it was in 1985 (which was a pretty good year, actually)? Or would you accept it as constructive criticism and consider the concept that maybe it was a bad business move? A mistake? Businesses make those, you know.

Speaking of 1985, it was the year Coca-Cola introduced "New Coke", which they passed off as a better-tasting formula; loyal Coke drinkers thought otherwise. Within a couple of months, Coke realised its folly and brought back the original formula as "Coca-Cola Classic". New Coke (later to be reflagged "Coke II") would remain alongside the original until 2002.

The New Coke incident was a case where a company changed the product, then changed it back (in a way), as it listened to its customers -- and they ended up richer for it.

 

[BlueWanderer]

The major issue I've noticed with the new graphics other than no constant time or date is that there is a patch of empty space on the lower left side of the standard def. screen. The previous graphics, which is still being used in my area when Locals on the 8s comes on, does not waste much space. However, the main issue I have with the previous graphics is the letters and numbers are too small and can be very hard to read when looking on a standard def. screen.

One positive about the new graphics is seeing the radar, especially when "Storm Stories" or whatever else come on and Locals on the 8s gets delayed until the show is over.

 

[KTN Corp]

Didn't say everyone does have a laptop (but the growing number of smart phones, etc., pretty much mean we're headed in that direction); but you can't cater to the luddites forever.

I find television to be more human because of both the visual and aural interaction with the weathercaster. The smartphone is as much as an advance as reading it in the newspaper; no interaction at all; just a quick check of today's weather and no in-depth coverage of the week's weather and the latest trends in the atmosphere. Read it and throw it away!

But the the real luddites are the ones using English measurements for the weather; they also happen to be the "techies".

P.S. About the tofu thing, primary producers (plants) provide more food energy than primary or secondary consumers (meat). Is that better (more efficient, et al.) for the earth, humanity, the environment, etc.? In the analogy, meat eating is a luddite function compared to vegetarian/vegan alternatives.

 

[MediaBoy4Radio]

The Weather Channel's most recent achievement has been the addition of "weather related" movies to its lineup.

I just can't wait for the Weather Channel premiere of , "Cloudy, with a Chance of Meatballs."


It will probably be hosted by Al Roker.......and he WILL be eating the meatballs!

 

[MarcB]

Weather Channel hasn't shown movies in a long time.

 

[ki4cgs]

They are starting the movies back this Friday under the name 'Forecast And A Flick'.

 

[pqgeorge]

What if McDonald's decided to start substituting soy for beef in their hamburgers - and trying to pawn them off as 'better than ever' when clearly they tasted like crap? Would you still be referring to those who complain about it as "luddites" who want to world to be as it was in 1985 (which was a pretty good year, actually)? Or would you accept it as constructive criticism and consider the concept that maybe it was a bad business move? A mistake? Businesses make those, you know.

Speaking of 1985, it was the year Coca-Cola introduced "New Coke", which they passed off as a better-tasting formula; loyal Coke drinkers thought otherwise. Within a couple of months, Coke realised its folly and brought back the original formula as "Coca-Cola Classic". New Coke (later to be reflagged "Coke II") would remain alongside the original until 2002.

The New Coke incident was a case where a company changed the product, then changed it back (in a way), as it listened to its customers -- and they ended up richer for it.

But also remember..... when Coca Cola returned the Original Coke with the "original formula", they changed a major part of one of Coke's original components. This was the time when they replaced the pure cane sugar that was in Coke right up until that time, to "high-fructose corn syrup". It's cheaper to produce Coke that way. There was a definite change in the taste, and not for the better. They claimed that "sugar is sugar", no matter what form it is. I beg to differ. If you want to get the original formula of Coca-Cola, buy it in Mexico or go to the Kosher Markets.

 

[azumanga]

If you want to get the original formula of Coca-Cola, buy it in Mexico or go to the Kosher Markets.

Some stores in the US sell "the really real thing", imported from Mexico -- I know some Publix stores in Florida do.

Pepsi has also gotten into the act, with "throwback" versions of Pepsi and Mountain Dew.

And of course, many Texans already know about "Dublin Dr. Pepper".

 

[anotherguyTN]

If you want to get the original formula of Coca-Cola, buy it in Mexico or go to the Kosher Markets.

Some stores in the US sell "the really real thing", imported from Mexico -- I know some Publix stores in Florida do.

Pepsi has also gotten into the act, with "throwback" versions of Pepsi and Mountain Dew.

And of course, many Texans already know about "Dublin Dr. Pepper".

Dr. Pepper has come out with Heritage Dr. Pepper with real sugar. I don't know how it compares with Dublin DP, but it tastes great.

 

[upstate29651]

Back on topic, NBC-U ruins everything it touches. Al Roker is a friggin' joke, and Stephanie Abrahms is too spastic. Both need to go. Yesterday. As do all reality shows on TWC.

G

 

[DToTheJ]

They are starting the movies back this Friday under the name 'Forecast And A Flick'.

Is this true? I couldn't find any news on this. And a Google search turned up a result of a blog which appears to have been deleted.