Weather Channel gals too blah??!.....

[dixiebreeze]

January 7, 2005 --
A storm of controversy has engulfed The Weather Channel, after a 40-something former anchor accused network brass of washing her out of a high-ranking job to make way for a hot front of sexy young weatherwomen.

Marny Stanier Midkiff, 42, this week filed a lawsuit claiming she was booted in the fall of 2003 as part of a reputed "reorganization" of the storm channel, which she believes was really an excuse to get more young female weathercasters on the air.

Midkiff says that, in the months before she was let go, her boss allegedly spoke of female staffers as "matronly," "dowdy" and "nun-like" and asked that female on-air talent turn up the temperature on their look with more revealing "V-neck" shirts.

Midkiff and her attorney claim The Weather Channel also began hiring new young weathercasters starting in 2003 as part of this effort, and the then-41-year-old, who spent 16 years reporting on sun and rain for the network, was left out in the cold.

"She got tossed aside because The Weather Channel wanted a younger look," said Midkiff's attorney, Daniel Klein. "She was one of the top [meteorologists]. She was one of the best they had, but she didn't fit the image they had in mind."

He said hires such as weathercasters Alexandra Steele and Nicole Mitchell are among those who demonstrate this trend. Klein's office also provided a picture of what was called the "new look" of the channel, in which recently hired meteorologists wear hotter-looking low-cut blouses.

According to Midkiff's suit, filed in Atlanta federal court, the forecast looked sunny for the veteran meteorologist in early 2003 as she was promoted to be a high-level manager of the other on-air talent, in addition to her regular duties reading the weather on air.

But Midkiff claims her boss, programming chief Terry Connelly, was becoming convinced the older look of the staff was costing The Weather Channel viewers.

The network declined to comment on the allegations because of pending litigation. But Midkiff claims the first major step Connelly took was to hire an image consultant.

"Connelly openly expressed animosity toward older female [meteorologists]," the suit says. "He spoke freely of his goal to 'young up' The Weather Channel.

"At one point, Connelly announced, 'We're old and we can't be . . . Our ratings are going down.' "

The worst for Midkiff came in August of 2003 when Connelly held an "open forum" in which he said viewers thought the network's female weathercasters looked too old.

[dixiebreeze]

I always thought Marty did a pretty good job and that the female TWC veterans were very good during 'Cane season.

[mikey mike]

Older on air "personalities" is not the reason why TWC is losing viewers.The reason is just what this idiot producer think is wrong.I personally did not tune in to TWC to see the new "blonde of the month" but to get WEATHER information.You may notice I said "did" tune in.I no longer watch this dog and pony show calling itself a weather network.

[dixiebreeze]

I agree with that, Mike. It seems that nowadays TWC has almost everything except weather. Oh for the good old days of John Hope and the weather gang of the 1980s.

[MWatkins]

Older on air "personalities" is not the reason why TWC is losing viewers.The reason is just what this idiot producer think is wrong.I personally did not tune in to TWC to see the new "blonde of the month" but to get WEATHER information.You may notice I said "did" tune in.I no longer watch this dog and pony show calling itself a weather network.

Actually...it is my belief that the net is filling more and more of the weather informaion void. For example...in the early 90's I used to keep the wx channel on 24/7 to see hour old satellite imagery because I couldn't get it otherwise...now I haven't even looked at it since Jeanne passed through here. Yet...I can look at any satellite loop from anywhere whenever I want...pull down models...observations in real time...and web cams...which is FAR more than the wx channel provides.

Putting younger ladies on the air is just a thinly disguised attempt to hang on to a predominantly (but not exclusively...I know) male audience. What's next...they have a reality show to choose the next on air personality?

They are losing market share to the net. They better adapt soon or they will continue to slide toward obscurity.

MW

[HurricaneBill]

I always liked Marny.

I started watching the Weather Channel back in 1990. I still watch it to see who is still on.

I still like watching Jeanetta Jones and Sheryl Lemke.

Jon Hope was my favorite male forecaster. Jeanetta is my favorite female forecaster.

Is Dennis Smith still on? I remember when he was reporting live on Hurricane Andrew from the eye or close to it.

[hurricanefreak1988]

He said hires such as weathercasters Alexandra Steele and Nicole Mitchell are among those who demonstrate this trend.

Yeah, I'd think I'd agree.

[dixiebreeze]

Older on air "personalities" is not the reason why TWC is losing viewers.The reason is just what this idiot producer think is wrong.I personally did not tune in to TWC to see the new "blonde of the month" but to get WEATHER information.You may notice I said "did" tune in.I no longer watch this dog and pony show calling itself a weather network.

Actually...it is my belief that the net is filling more and more of the weather informaion void. For example...in the early 90's I used to keep the wx channel on 24/7 to see hour old satellite imagery because I couldn't get it otherwise...now I haven't even looked at it since Jeanne passed through here. Yet...I can look at any satellite loop from anywhere whenever I want...pull down models...observations in real time...and web cams...which is FAR more than the wx channel provides.

Putting younger ladies on the air is just a thinly disguised attempt to hang on to a predominantly (but not exclusively...I know) male audience. What's next...they have a reality show to choose the next on air personality?

They are losing market share to the net. They better adapt soon or they will continue to slide toward obscurity.

MW

Absolutely agree, Mike W. I used to always have TWC on, but not anymore. Far more useful info (and more up-to-date) on the Net. Plus, of course, we get to discuss what's happening.

[george_r_1961]

Marny was one of my favorites; after she was let go I rarely watch TWC anymore. The tropical update isnt the same without John Hope either

[weatherlover427]

Marny was one of my favorites; after she was let go I rarely watch TWC anymore. The tropical update isnt the same without John Hope either

I agree 100%. It was a sad day when he passed on and in fact was the reason I joined their forums.

[fci]

Totally agree that TWC has seen its better days mostly due to the Net.
It does seem that you get everything BUT the Weather.
Storm Stories, the same thing basically over and over again.
Now during Hurricane season here in So. FLa, I depended on Storm 2K for my latest info!