The Weather Channel removed form Verizon Fios; replaced by new AccuWeather Channel

[Andrew2016 2]

http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/accuweather-channel-launches-bumps-the-weather-channel-on-fios/257863

 

"With its first distribution deal in place, the Accuweather Channel is now a reality. Accuweather Channel is now the primary weather network on Verizon FiOS, bumping the Weather Channel from the lineup. While the 5.5 million subscribers of FiOS pales in comparison to the 97 million homes of The Weather Channel (the most widely-distributed of all cable networks), company CEO Barry Lee Myers tells TVNewser he’s aiming for the distribution stratosphere. Myers says what sets AC apart from TWC is that “it’s all weather all the time,” a subtle shot at TWC’s penchant for primetime reality programs. Myers says “the modern digital feel” of the network will also be a draw."

[ToriElectra 292]

Well, they actually launched it! Good for them, but bad for people who want the Weather Channel. This is gonna probably turn into a mudslinging contest between AWX, TWC and FiOS. (Also, for some reason, WFMZ used a lot of flat AccuWeather-sourced graphics in their weathercasts this weekend; not sure why, considering it clashes so very badly with the rest of their graphics.)

[BehindNYNews 147]

Good for AccuWeather and the viewing public. I wonder if stations that provide AccuWeather forecasts will promote this channel, for example WABC.

[TheRolyPoly 2466]

Loved AccuWeather since the announcement that they were gonna create the channel. Now that its a reality, I wanna see it online now, since I don't have cable. A very good move by AccuWeather and FiOS, since The AccuWeather Network is 24/7 weather, unlike TWC.

[ChesapeakeTV 311]

I have FiOS, so I've had this channel on in the background for the past twenty minutes or so. Honestly it reminds me of the old NBC Weather Plus, except for the local origination portions. They're fulfilling the whole weather all the time bit, that's for sure.

 

They do have a few kinks to work out...but it's really not bad at all, especially for this stage. The only thing I'm really missing is a Local On The 8's equivalent.

[TheRolyPoly 2466]

The big question is... Is it already better than WeatherNation TV? If so, then the bigger question is... Is it already better than The Weather Channel?

 

By the way, the name of the channel is called "The AccuWeather Network."

[nickp 337]

Dear weather channel, We want 24/7 weather coverage, not reality programming

[LOWERCASE GUY 265]

IIRC: When this fiasco happened with DirecTV, didn't they say they would "Scale back the reality programming"? It seems like I see more reality fluff and less weather! I miss the good ole days when I could tune in at 11:30 and see the weather, instead of "Fat Guys in the Woods?" If I wanted to see a fat guy in a wood, I would walk in the woods myself and take a selfie!

[Mrknowitall526 115]

 

Well, they actually launched it! Good for them, but bad for people who want the Weather Channel. This is gonna probably turn into a mudslinging contest between AWX, TWC and FiOS. (Also, for some reason, WFMZ used a lot of flat AccuWeather-sourced graphics in their weathercasts this weekend; not sure why, considering it clashes so very badly with the rest of their graphics.)

 

WFMZ always uses tons of stock AccuWeather graphics, and I think Accuweather just happened to change their look right before this launched. "Convenient" I think!

[Jess 1115]

 

IIRC: When this fiasco happened with DirecTV, didn't they say they would "Scale back the reality programming"? It seems like I see more reality fluff and less weather! I miss the good ole days when I could tune in at 11:30 and see the weather, instead of "Fat Guys in the Woods?" If I wanted to see a fat guy in a wood, I would walk in the woods myself and take a selfie!

 

They DID scale back the reality stuff. There was a "hole" from 2-5pm on weekdays, that changed so they were going straight from 4am/5am to 8pm on weekdays. You're still screwed if you want a weather forecast after 8pm or on a weekend, but that is an improvement.

 

I think Fat Guys in the Woods has entered the realm of things management wishes they could undo. It has to be up there with the Cartoon Network Real block that bombed so badly a few years back. I can't think of anything comparable that's received this amount of bilious hatred.

[ToriElectra 292]

I'm wondering what they replaced WeatherScan with. (For those that need the weather on the weekend, or just basically a TV screensaver, that thing's a godsend.)

[ChesapeakeTV 311]

WeatherScan's allotment on my FiOS headend has been replaced with a static slide advertising the WeatherBug widget provided by the STB.

[alex979 119]

So, this dispute is getting pretty interesting. It isn't only Verizon vs TWC; it's also now TWC vs Accuweather. TWC turned up the heat today by starting an ad campaign highlighting their live breaking news coverage of the tornadoes in Oklahoma last week, and AW's lack of severe weather coverage. Even though AW isn't available where the tornadoes hit, I think they still should have tried to demonstrate to the public (and other cable and satellite providers) that they are a viable alternative to TWC during severe weather.

 

Also, AW's CEO took some shots at TWC today, saying that "they've had a virtual monopoly for 30-some years. They almost lost with DirecTV, and they have lost with Verizon. Competition is good, and it offers people choice and strengthens products."

Really? Correct me if I'm wrong, but FIOS is the only provider that carries Accuweather Network. And, they dumped TWC. So no one has access to both TWC and AW on cable. How in the world is that competition? If AW wants to compete with TWC, then they should want Verizon to bring TWC back, right? Why can't Verizon offer two weather networks?

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/03/30/weather-channel-launches-ad-campaign-mocking-accuweather/

[Spring Rubber 705]

It's pretty sad that TWC is done with live weather programming on weekends by the time I even wake up! The basically took the MSNBC model and copy/pasted it onto TWC.

[TheRolyPoly 2466]

 

It's pretty sad that TWC is done with live weather programming on weekends by the time I even wake up! The basically took the MSNBC model and copy/pasted it onto TWC.

 

And now I'm hearing that TWC could be dropped from DISH as well. If so, then yikes. TWC gone from FiOS, then DISH. DirecTV already cut them once and now DISH could be the same.

 

TWC should be in panicked mode by now.