Dear Weather Channel,
I heard the news. DirecTV is playing hardball. They’ve pulled the plug and covered your old channel with WeatherNation. Harsh.
Here’s the problem. No one will show you sympathy while you make claims that are over-the-top.
The consequences of removing it from 20 million households are detrimental to public safety. That’s why Congress and DIRECTV need to understand the risks to your local community. – KeepTheWeatherChannel.com
You business is weathertainment. That’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s an honorable pursuit.
People don’t watch as much when the weather’s tranquil. Your move to long form reality makes more sense when taken within that context.
You’re spending more on production. You’ve brought in more experts–some excellent. Your travel budget is large. You have carved out your niche.
When weather is the story, you’re America’s number two choice!
Sorry. Local media always covers storms with more specificity and detail. They always do a better job. Always.
Someone recently gave me the TV ratings from the Oklahoma City tornado outbreak. While warnings were in effect, local news received over 90% of the viewers. TWC was down in the weeds somewhere.
The Weather Channel was a great way to follow the storms from Cleveland, Des Moines or Los Angeles. Oklahoma City needed local info in ways you just can’t do.
Even you wouldn’t have the cajones to tell people to turn away from local coverage and follow threatening weather with you.
You do what you do well. It’s time you come to grips with what that is.
All the best,
Geoff