Huh? Local TV stations have always done a great job, even though The Weather Channel was there for 40 years. They exist irrespective of each other. It's not a one-or-the-other thing. It's obvious that TWC had a staffing issue Friday night, because they've covered lots of other similar tornadoes and hurricanes during the past year under Allen ownership. I haven't seen any evidence that they "shrug it off like no big deal." I also have no reason to believe this is going to be a regular thing.
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No cable news / Weather Channel coverage during Midwest tornado outbreak
- Thread starter Theater of My Mind
- Start date
Huh? Local TV stations have always done a great job, even though The Weather Channel was there for 40 years. They exist irrespective of each other. It's not a one-or-the-other thing. It's obvious that TWC had a staffing issue Friday night, because they've covered lots of other similar tornadoes and hurricanes during the past year under Allen ownership. I haven't seen any evidence that they "shrug it off like no big deal." I also have no reason to believe this is going to be a regular thing.
Despite you twisting what I said, I can tell you this. These were historic, record-breaking storms, a once-in-a-lifetime moment for TWC to step up, but instead they cut to reality show reruns. "Next time" ain't gonna cut it.
They primarily hit some small towns in Kentucky. The rest of the world seems to be just fine.
They have a 40 year track record. They missed one in 40 years. For that, you're dismissing everything they've ever done.
We did watch during the evening, and yes I also pulled up streams from the affected areas. We weren't on the path (hint: TWC's ratings go up during hurricanes, even from people who are nowhere near the coasts.); know. Everybody isn't as savvy as a lot of us are on the internet, knowing where to find streams and local coverage for other affected areas.t Having said that, bailing out of that historic storm was unexcusable. It was inexcusable to do no coverage for the Memorial Day tornadoes that Dayton, Ohio. Yes, I knew how to find audio and video streams, likely others didn't.
Like I mentioned earlier there were also towns in Northern TN hit as well, and not as much said about it, but I'll admit Mayfield, KY probably got it worse than anywhere.
I’m not sure what is happening with TWC, but the days of covering local areas on a national platform may be ending. As I posted locals usually can do this better and perhaps with more skill depending on the meteorologists who know what they are doing. I don’t live a storm area but if I did I would trust my locals.
Tornadoes are not easy to predict where they will hit or when. Hurricanes can be pinpointed down to the hour when the make landfall. The same with snow storms. They can get crews in the area and cover the storm. A small town in Kentucky is like a needle in a haystack. What can the Weather Channel or anyone else do at 10pm on a Friday night. Don't forget Tornadoes are rare in December, nevermind long track storms. I don't think anyone at the weather channel was expecting what occurred Friday night, a 200 mile long track storm.
To be specific, it was 3AM local time Saturday morning when the tornado hit. Most people were asleep. The majority of those killed were at work either at the candle plant or the Amazon distribution center. They weren't watching TV.
And they are not going to pay an on air staff to be there for something that might not happen.
Yes. Exactly my point. Great argument for locals to remain strong on this. Also folks need to set their phones for alerts.
This is what local news is for. It's not the job of the weather channel or anyone else national to report on local weather.
Viewers Furious With The Weather Channel for Running Canned Programming During Historic Storm
The Weather Channel has been facing a degree of criticism from those who don't think they did proper early coverage on the storm that devastated the Midwest.
www.mediaite.com
They covered it all day Saturday.Viewers Furious With The Weather Channel for Running Canned Programming During Historic Storm
The Weather Channel has been facing a degree of criticism from those who don't think they did proper early coverage on the storm that devastated the Midwest.
This is not normal game planning but the weather channel should be prepared. But, again, the locals do a far better job. That said locals have better local crews and can get them to a scene much quicker. Perhaps the problem with WC is they don’t have close connections with the locals? Don’t know, just asking.
If so, then The Weather Channel was still broadcasting live. The above linked story said they stayed live until midnight.
I was up until 3:30 watching various services. The main thing I noticed was there really were no emergency officials for the anchors to speak with. No police reps, no government reps, no weather reps. Normally during this kind of coverage, they can interview local emergency officials. Instead about all they could do is storm chasing.
There's still the issue of why there were no EAS alerts sent out on cell phones in my area as close as it was to the storms as well.
TWC has had "local on the 8s" since the 80s.
That doesn't originate at TWC. They provide a donut and bed for the local insert that is created at the cable company. I used to have DirecTV, and the "local on the 8s" were empty.
When I watched ACCUWeather Network it was pretape did talk about the outbreaking news I think it was from hours ago. Local news is better when comes to server weather thunderstorms & tornados as TWC will just track a storm for a minute or 2 then move to another area in the line in the same state or a different state. I was surprised that TWC had coverage all weekend and did not air the reality shows until late at night.
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