Dish Almost Drops The Weather Channel (1 Viewer)

It was supposed to happen last night, but I guess they reached some sort of an agreement. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/business/media/22weather.html?src=busln I am glad that someone is finally speaking out about these mis-directed channels showing everything except what they are supposed to be. "When the Dish Network, a satellite carrier with 14 million subscribers, threatened to drop the Weather Channel this week, it cited too much “weather-tainment” programming as a reason. (The bigger reason, though, appears to be cost.)" TWC has added these feature shows and now wants to charge more for them. I don't even watch TWC much anymore due to all their stories and movies on in the evening, so I definitely don't want to be paying more for it. And this is being said by a weather geek with his own weather station/website. How can I check out the weekend weather for my plans, if they are showing a movie on Friday night? Even though Dish is still airing TWC (214), they added a new weather channel on 213 that is showing weather all the time.

I hate that the Local on the 8s can't show local information on the HD channel. What good is that? I switch over to SD, and the last time, they were showing a city on the other side of the metroplex. They were having rough weather, and I wasn't.

The Weather Channel becomes more and more useless over time with all the fluff stories and hyperbole forecasting. Seems like every time I try and get a local forecast anymore, they're always showing some special programming.

I am glad to see Dish stand up and tell them that.

Although I have DirecTV, I could not agree more with most of the comments here and am glad to see I am not the only one that can't stand TWC anymore. If I wanted to watch entertainment, history of weather, etc. then I would seek it from another source. The problem is it seems like a lot of these channels that started out with a straight dedication to their material has either gone away or totally changed their format like all the music video channels that use to show music videos all the time.


Since NBC took over TWC, it has gotten that much worse. I also do NOT want to see Al Roker on there with Stephanie Abrhams. Since when are weather people now an entertainer. It comes across of phony fluff in my opinion. Nothing wrong with having a little light hearted talk at times, but when she and Al are on it can be grating and wear thin real quick.


As most of the REAL weather people here point out, what about the fact people do travel at all hours of the day and when you spend hours showing and doing something besides real weather information then the channel is totally useless. Now, as Dish and others here have said, I wonder how much longer this will last or if TWC will go the way of all the prior music video channels? Surely us few here can't be a minority that wants a REAL weather channel. If TWC fails to deliver then surely another will soon take it's place.

Originally Posted by Jeffery_H I wonder how much longer this will last or if TWC will go the way of all the prior music video channels?

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Never really thought of it that way, but now that you mention it TWC has become kinda like MTV. Seems like they're focused on everything but actually forecasting the weather.

I was disenchanted with TWC from the start. First, the assault of the HORRIBLE LOUD CANNED MUSIC blaring through the actual local weather info screens. This is how they conceive of a scientific data providing channel?? The main problem touches on what everyone is saying: To people who need a weather channel at all, weather is INFORMATION, it goes on 24/7, and this kind of channel is of value only if it continuously and expertly provides that information.


The creation of a second weather-related channel, call it the The Weathertainment or The Weather History Channel, would be fine, leaving one channel to provide nothing but data. But even if such a change took place, it very likely would still leave things unsatisfactory. "TV", in the conventional linear sense, isn't geared to selecting the kind of comprehensive coverage of something like weather detail -- in given areas, on demand, at the touch of a button. Computers and the web are, though -- but when it comes to detailed weather info in various local areas, even the breakdown on various weather websites can leave a lot to be desired. But it's a damned sight better.


Now that I think about it, there is a secondary weather channel on Comcast here in western Connecticut that does indeed broadcast more continuous info...but it is to a large extent worthless in my area. Why? Because for whatever regional breakdown reason, it shows New Haven weather pretty exclusively. And though New Haven is but 25 miles or so away from where I live... it's on the coast, I'm inland, and it's a different climate!

Sci-Fi Channel (or SyFy) is another example. This afternoon, they're showing the films Alexander, King Arthur, and Casino Royale (Bond). None of these have any kind of relation to sci-fi that I can figure.


If they want to show action dramas, why not create a separate channel? Same with TWC, put all your fluff pieces and historical reenactments somewhere else.

Two of the local channels in the Albany area use their digital subchannels to broadcast the local forecast on a continuous loop, so I don't even bother the weather channel any more.

Lets see...

• The weather Channel showing movies
• MTV showing "reality" programming
• SyFy showing action movies
• The History channel showing Modern marvels, Ice Road Truckers, or futuristic shows like When Man Left Earth
• The "Learning" Channel (TLC) Reality shows like Jan & Kate or Little People
• The Discovery Channel - Pitchmen or The Colony

What else did I miss?

GSN--The "Game Show Network"--has poker all night on Sundays and reality show garbage like Carnie Wilson Unplugged.

TV Land plays movies.

I turned it on the other night to get a quick update and they were showing "Dead Calm". I checked the channel # to make sure I was on the right channel. I was.

I understand why MTV and TWC started showing long form programming -- people would watch a few videos and then turn the channel when commercials came on. I'm sure that it much more difficult to sustain ad revenue when people don't sit through commercials on that channel (or even worse, are using that channel while waiting for the commercials to end on the other channel they're actually watching). TWC's situation is even worse -- you get your local weather and shove off. But while MTV is branding their reality shows, TWC is just showing generic movies. Who turns on TWC to watch a movie? It seriously makes no sense. This is in contrast to TV Guide channel, that actually airs reality based shows I'm interested in, but there's no way in hell I'm watching it all distorted while programming scrolls by. Holy cow, that's headache inducing.

I have never worried about the weather, so I've never watched TWC, but my wife always wants to know how the weather is. But she goes online for that.

BTW, does anyone here actually watch a movie on TV that's edited for time and content and interrupted with commercials? I remember watching movies on network TV all the time when I was a kid, but I don't even watch movies On Demand much less interrupted with commercials.

If something interesting pops up I haven't seen in a while I may watch, but if it starts with "edited for time, content, modified for the time allowed, whatever..." instant delete.


That's why it's nice having HBO and Showtime, they show some older stuff and you know you're getting the entire movie, no edits.


As for TWC, I had Dish installed about a year ago and have never watched TWC. Made my own channel list to cut out all the shopping and other junk channels, must have included TWC in the list. We all have different interests and that channel isn't worth my time.

I'm sure that it much more difficult to sustain ad revenue when people don't sit through commercials on that channel (or even worse, are using that channel while waiting for the commercials to end on the other channel they're actually watching). TWC's situation is even worse -- you get your local weather and shove off.

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I agree, but TWC will never be the #1 channel. Instead of trying to grab all the market share they should be content doing what they do while turning a profit. Outside of weather freaks, I would think the only time most people would turn to them is in an emergency or to check the forecast for the next day or weekend events. This time would be after work/dinner when things have settled around the house. Now during this time they chose to air their stories or movies and now they wonder why people are turning away. If you were traveling and got to your hotel room and you wanted the local forecast for the next day, would you sit through Storm Stories?


What I find interesting is that I also belong to a weather forum and nobody there watches TWC. It says something when you have a channel dedicated to something that most find a little boring, the weather, and the ones that find it interesting hate your channel.

The chief reason to watch TWC has always been the hot weather girls, though I think that has been toned down since Hillary Andrews accused Bob Stokes of sexual harrassment. I watched the morning weather predominately because of her, and I have to say, it's hard for her to have had a case. She'd openly flirt with the guy, and come back from break with her clothes half undone. A friend and I were convinced they were doing it off camera. She won, so the jury or judge must have thought otherwise, but I was picking up the signals.

I think what a LOT of people are overlooking is what I said many of us need a 24/7 weather channel for, that is travel. There are several ways I can get my local forecast and I don't care about that as much most of the time I am watching TWC. I can get local from several regional stations where I live. What I do care about is all the forecasts in other parts of the USA, especially if I am traveling. If it is by vehicle, then it is even more important to me so I know what is coming, what I may run into, where I can plan to stay until it passes, etc. The point is a weather channel is something a lot of us need 24/7 for accurate travel information. Also I could really use more updates on weather that may cause flight delays and such all year. For someone that makes trips by plane or vehicle, this information is critical and why I am glued to the weather in all forms: local, TWC and internet.


There simply needs to be a 24/7 100% hard core weather channel, even if a new one must be started from the ground up by some other media company. The information is just to vital. Also, I would love to replace those fluff reporters now with some true meteorologists that have Masters and Phd degrees. On the TWC, I think I have seen maybe two guys on there that would qualify. The rest are the fluff women that just read the info.

Originally Posted by Greg_S_H

The chief reason to watch TWC has always been the hot weather girls, though I think that has been toned down since Hillary Andrews accused Bob Stokes of sexual harrassment. I watched the morning weather predominately because of her, and I have to say, it's hard for her to have had a case. She'd openly flirt with the guy, and come back from break with her clothes half undone. A friend and I were convinced they were doing it off camera. She won, so the jury or judge must have thought otherwise, but I was picking up the signals.

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They do this sort of thing all the time to drum up ratings. Usually, it is all staged and they are in on it of course together coming up with ways to get viewers involved. You certainly can see the same thing on news channels too. I know Fox News has several that have done this, like Shepard Smith and Jane Skinner. Heck, they have some of the hottest women around giving news and you sure don't see any average or overweight people there just like you point out on TWC.


I think sometimes though when people get actually involved, all this can get ugly real quick and the women can claim sexual harassment even though they knew what they were doing. It's like a lovers spat gone bad. Sometimes it ends happy, as I know several news anchors that have met their spouses working together and things are just fine. But when it goes bad, that's when there's the problem you speak of.

Originally Posted by Jeffery_H

I think what a LOT of people are overlooking is what I said many of us need a 24/7 weather channel for, that is travel... What I do care about is all the forecasts in other parts of the USA, especially if I am traveling.

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But aren't there 4 or 5 websites that do this exact thing? Punch in a zip code, and it gives you the weather anywhere. Which is probably why a new 24/7 weather only channel wouldn't be at all successful. If TWC has to resort to alternative programming to get by, it probably means they're not getting enough revenue from just showing the weather.

Originally Posted by Jeffery_H

I think what a LOT of people are overlooking is what I said many of us need a 24/7 weather channel for, that is travel. There are several ways I can get my local forecast and I don't care about that as much most of the time I am watching TWC. I can get local from several regional stations where I live. What I do care about is all the forecasts in other parts of the USA, especially if I am traveling. If it is by vehicle, then it is even more important to me so I know what is coming, what I may run into, where I can plan to stay until it passes, etc. The point is a weather channel is something a lot of us need 24/7 for accurate travel information. Also I could really use more updates on weather that may cause flight delays and such all year. For someone that makes trips by plane or vehicle, this information is critical and why I am glued to the weather in all forms: local, TWC and internet.


There simply needs to be a 24/7 100% hard core weather channel, even if a new one must be started from the ground up by some other media company. The information is just to vital. Also, I would love to replace those fluff reporters now with some true meteorologists that have Masters and Phd degrees. On the TWC, I think I have seen maybe two guys on there that would qualify. The rest are the fluff women that just read the info.

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You'll get a lot more information out of the Weather Channel app if you have an iPhone or an Android phone than you ever would out of watching TWC on television.