WeatherNation TV

[PupReporter 0]

It looks like WeatherNation TV is on DirecTV. It's right above The Weather Channel on the guide. Their on-air talent seem barely network material but the network's overall mission seems fun. Thoughts?

[jero23 105]

I love it in comparison of modern-day The Weather Channel. It shows me what I need to know weather-wise in a relatively decent amount of time.

[tvjay 6]

This happened several weeks ago with little fanfare. Rumor is that it happened to put pressure on The Weather Channel to back off its request for more money during the current re-transmission negotiations.

[ColumbusNewsFan 217]

I do have DirecTV and I've found myself watching them for weather more often then TWC with how Satelitte works with TWC. Don't want reality shows just give me the weather when I need it.

[Thundershock MN 169]

 

It looks like WeatherNation TV is on DirecTV. It's right above The Weather Channel on the guide. Their on-air talent seem barely network material but the network's overall mission seems fun. Thoughts?

 

To be fair WeatherNation wasn't originally meant to be a national weather channel.

 

WeatherNation, LLC originally launched in 2008 as a weather centralcasting service. Stations looking to outsource their weather or fill in an unfilled shift could contract with WeatherNation, LLC to create a customized weather segment to insert into their newscast or website. They also created customized subchannels using the WeatherNation branding.

 

The current incarnation, WeatherNation TV, was birthed out of a contract dispute between The Weather Channel & Dish Network. In 2010 Dish Network turned to WeatherNation, LLC to create a national channel for them in the event TWC was pulled. That channel was branded The Weather Cast and lasted only a few days on Dish Network. But, it showed that there is an unfilled niche for a "true" weather channel. The next year WeatherNation, LLC partnered with Performance One Media to launch a national weather channel. The WeatherNation branding was shifted to the new network/business, WeatherNation TV. The original entity, WeatherNation, LLC, still exists and was rebranded into Broadcast Weather, LLC.

 

So, I wouldn't rip them too much. The talent is mostly made up of folks with ties to the upper Midwest (mainly MN/IA) and/or founder Paul Douglas. Again, they are all very, very talented folks and know plenty about meteorology. Given the original mission of the company they were more than qualified. But, given most of their career paths I can understand how they come off a little less than polished on this new national network. Also, their facilities office/studio are less than 3,000 sq. ft. So, basically the size of a Radio Shack. Becoming a national network wasn't really part of their original plans, it just evolved that way. Give them time they will grow they are just starting out.

[tyrannical bastard 3955]

In addition to DirecTV, the channel offers a live feed on their website, Android and Apple platforms, Sony, Samsung, LG & Roku devices, as well as starting to air on sub-channels in various markets.

Gannett seems to be picking up the channel on some of their legacy stations (pre-Belo).

 

The way TWC has jumped the shark in terms of weather coverage makes this a valuable resource, especially for cord-cutters and people considering dumping cable or satellite.

[Thundershock MN 169]

 

In addition to DirecTV, the channel offers a live feed on their website, Android and Apple platforms, Sony, Samsung, LG & Roku devices, as well as starting to air on sub-channels in various markets.

Gannett seems to be picking up the channel on some of their legacy stations (pre-Belo).

 

The way TWC has jumped the shark in terms of weather coverage makes this a valuable resource, especially for cord-cutters and people considering dumping cable or satellite.

 

KARE has been using WeatherNation since 2009. WeatherNation created the customized "KARE Weather Now" subchannel with WeatherNation providing national/regional segments that were previously provided by NBC Weather Plus. When the national "WeatherNation TV" was launched 2011 the customized "KARE Weather Now" was replaced with a localized version of "WeatherNation TV".

 

This isn't that shocking since WeatherNation founder Paul Douglas spent a good chunk of his career at KARE. I assumed at least one or two other Gannett stations followed the same path as KARE back in 2009. But, it looks like most (if not all) of them went with localized versions of AccuWeather channel. WeatherNation has also been providing weather content to the St. Cloud Times whom like KARE is...A Gannett Company. So, anyway there is your connection and why I won't be shocked when this eventually appears most if not all Gannett stations/properties.

[MidwestTV 1232]

Hmmm...it sounds as if we might actually see more of WeatherNation in the coming future? I would imagine at some point they or somebody else would want to invest heavily in making them more polished and serious.

[Asomrjsurf 6]

Maybe as a National Channel if not Accuweather.

[PelicanGuy 117]

They get to the point and give me the weather, not the Top 5 videos of the day, nor dumb reality shows. I've seen their ads; they looks they got quite a bit planned for this year.

[LoadStar 364]

Only two quibbles that I've had with their product: first, they seem to spend an inordinate amount of time on a rather limited social network (i.e. viewer submitted photos), and two, it seems as if the meteorologists on set are actually responsible for switching sources (between camera and the various computers), making for a somewhat less than smooth presentation.

 

There is a WeatherNation affiliate in this area, but I think it may be outside of my reception range... I can pick it up on a good day, but most days not.

[Big Country News 435]

 

It seems as if the meteorologists on set are actually responsible for switching sources (between camera and the various computers), making for a somewhat less than smooth presentation.

 

I noticed that as well. I wonder if they will add a control room or at least an off-camera switcher in the new year.

[Thundershock MN 169]

Only two quibbles that I've had with their product: first, they seem to spend an inordinate amount of time on a rather limited social network (i.e. viewer submitted photos), and two, it seems as if the meteorologists on set are actually responsible for switching sources (between camera and the various computers), making for a somewhat less than smooth presentation.

 

There is a WeatherNation affiliate in this area, but I think it may be outside of my reception range... I can pick it up on a good day, but most days not.

I noticed that as well. I wonder if they will add a control room or at least an off-camera switcher in the new year.

The cameras are fixed (as in not movable throughout the studio.) But, are all controlled via handheld remote control by the meteorologists. When discussing how everything is controlled via remote, Paul Douglas, WeatherNation founder, stated "A couple million dollars of technology and it all comes down to a souped-up garage door opener" in a Pioneer Press article in 2009.

 

I'm not sure you guys fully grasp how small WeatherNation is in comparison to The Weather Channel. They are working on the second floor of a small non-descript office building on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. And, I mentioned up thread how small those facilities really are. It's 2,700 sq. ft. total, that's it! They have 3 studios, the main one being about 400 sq. ft. The second studio or, "studio b" was built out around 2010. I'm not sure if they have finished building out the third yet. Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

Main Studio:

 

Studio B:

 

Studio B (in use):

 

Again, given WeatherNation's original mission this was more than sufficient. They never set out to be a national weather channel. When "The Weather Cast" (the precursor to WeatherNation TV) launched in 2010 Paul Douglas stated on one of his blogs "I'll close with this - 2 years ago, when I launched WeatherNation, had anyone predicted we'd be starting up a national weather channel I would have laughed them out of my office. It's all a bit surreal, but I'm proud of my team. No matter what happens next that will not change." Yes, it might be a little rough around the edges now. But, I think they are putting out a fine product when you consider just how "David vs Goliath" the comparisons to The Weather Channel are right now. They already have a leg up on The Weather Channel in my mind as everyone on-air at WeatherNation is a meteorologist, no "presenters." They all have a passion for weather and given time to grow WeatherNation will turn into something much, much bigger.

 

*all photos courtesy of Paul Douglas' St. Cloud Weather Blog.

[MidwestTV 1232]

I think that it would be really fun to be part of a start-up-from-nothing national weather network!

[L. Mager 0]

Hi to all,

I am new to this board and have no connection with broadcasting, but upon looking up where Weather Nation films from, I wanted to comment on the W.N. I just got DirecTV and just saw the program and quite frankly, I and my BF/Spouse saw W.N. and We are HOOKED on it! Granted, Kylee Miller and Addison aren't "polished" like their competitors....YET!! Give them time + they will get used to it. For Our money, both figuratively and literally, Weather Nation is what We are looking for in a weather network. They, unlike TWC, know where various towns are in states besides the large cities. We live in Fairborn, Ohio, I'm from central and southern Illinois and both Kylee and Addison mentioned a number of towns We both are familiar with + they show the various counties on each state's map!

We are both W.N. enthusiasts now and We wish W.N. the best!

 

Cheers to all,

Larry

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 917]

I too have found myself watching this more and more... I've even downloaded their app and liking it more than TWC... What TWC should've done is done a "spinoff channel" to show their reality shows and whatnot and kept TWC to its roots and stick with actual weather coverage.

[L. Mager 0]

I too have found myself watching this more and more... I've even downloaded their app and liking it more than TWC... What TWC should've done is done a "spinoff channel" to show their reality shows and whatnot and kept TWC to its roots and stick with actual weather coverage.

I have to agree with You. I really think that TWC missed the boat on that!

[LoadStar 364]

Unfortunately, since the local WeatherNation affiliate dropped the network in favor of informercials, then later religious programming, I haven't been able to see this network. I wish there was more competition for The Weather Channel.

[L. Mager 0]

Hi Loadstar,

Hopefully You can find another affiliate soon.

[nathannah 2441]

Unfortunately, since the local WeatherNation affiliate dropped the network in favor of informercials, then later religious programming, I haven't been able to see this network. I wish there was more competition for The Weather Channel.

 

WIWN, in the same boat here (and to think Charter and TWC actually picked them up only to end up with Sonlife when the station got new owners!) I have checked in here and there with the app and it's been great, but I miss the local maps. Unfortunately it's a network that's become expendable thanks to classic TV nets and in order to comply with CW's 'must air in HD' mandate (the latter is not a bad thing, but a side effect of limited bandwidth). Hopefully ATSC 3.0 gives them a boost and more carriage.

[easttxtv 7]

I've found that their weathernationtv.com site has a live video feed window in it so you can watch if you don't have a station or cable channel carrying it.

[TheRolyPoly 2449]

I've found that their weathernationtv.com site has a live video feed window in it so you can watch if you don't have a station or cable channel carrying it.

 

Its the only national weather channel that does so without a need for cable TV as TWC does as well but needs pay-TV and AccuWeather doesn't stream theirs at all (broken promise, btw).

[tyrannical bastard 3955]

And it looks like they are still available on multiple OTT devices like Roku and Fire as well as Sony and Samsung. This makes it a valuable resource for cord cutters...