The Weather Channel up for grabs?

[mitchell]

Most viewers are dumb, but the nature of a niche channel is to appeal to those who aren't. It makes as much sense for the Weather Channel in 2010 to be showing their Challenger shows as for the New York Times to start running pornography.

From all appearances, TWC's market research agree's with you about most viewers, and they probably don't want to be (remain?) a niche channel. I doubt the reason they stick with (some) on-air meteorologists who look nice but can't put a sentence together is because they don't have other options.

[Frank2]

Aside from my thoughts about TWC's current state of programming, in reference to last night's episode of "When Weather Changed History", I did want to comment about that disaster - unfortunately, I was a very (very) small part of the chain for Challenger's weather support almost 22 years ago, but, we could never understand why the launch was still a "go", despite everything that indicated otherwise...

Just because the sun was shining didn't mean the weather was good - the launch pad suffered a hard freeze the night before (even until 2 hours before launch), and, we knew the upper winds were terrible (~100 knots). Even the commander and co-pilot of the shuttle commented on the strong buffeting the shuttle was taking - it was determined (as mentioned in last night's program) that this also contributed to the disaster, as it seemed to cause the "temporary seal" in the affected o-ring to become dislodged during the shuttle's ascent, allowing the burning vapors to burn through the rocket itself...

Sadly, while it was never admitted to, pride (the Roger's Commission referred to it as "over confidence") was largely to blame for what happened - if those responsible had only decided to wait a more reasonable amount of time, the accident would have never happened, since the weather the very next day was much better, at the surface and aloft...

Some wonder why the Bible considers pride to be one of the "Seven Deadly Sins" - well, this is why...

As for TWC, well, I agreee with your statement, but, the same dumb pattern is happening, as you said, with ESPN, not to mention TVLand, Food Network, AMC, VH1, etc., etc., so, it's a sign of the times - we are losing a sense of clarity on many things, it seems - even television programming...

As for weather reporting, it seems NBCWP has become better at this - at least, they stick to just weather reporting (though they are "live" only 18 hours per day (taped OCM segments are aired at other times) - come to think of it, so is TWC, except those 6 hours of "off-air" time are filled with shows similar to "When Weather Changed History")...

If I had to give TWC any advice, it would be to stick to weather reporting - and stop trying to be everything else...

[dtrain44]

From all appearances, TWC's market research agree's with you about most viewers, and they probably don't want to be (remain?) a niche channel. I doubt the reason they stick with (some) on-air meteorologists who look nice but can't put a sentence together is because they don't have other options.

You're probably right, Ed. Still, I think there's a lot of shortsighted behavior in the TV world as more and more channels try to go pop culture in order to capture a poorly defined demographic. There will always be people interested in weather, but TWC's approach seems designed to remove them from their audience in favor of an appeal to a few more people who like looking at boobies. With the internet and other options, people don't need TWC to get weather information, but it can be convenient and interesting. I just have no faith whatsoever that TWC will be able to win the dumb thirty five year olds with attractive weathergirls over the long term when so many other channels are offering the same thing, except with skimpier tops. I really think there's a market for in depth analysis and honest to goodness weather coverage, and that market is not being served on TWC.

I get that frills can give you a temporary boost in ratings, but I think this is the same thing as a fast food restaurant offering a new menu item. The McRib might boost sales temporarily, but it won't help if it comes at the expense of the Big Mac and McNuggets, and I think this is exactly what's happening at TWC, which is a niche network, whether they like it or not.

If any of you have seen Idiocracy, I think it's alarmingly close to our present circumstances.......

Edited to say that it's a big mistake to abandon the core customer, especially in an age where those you might gain at the margin are notoriously fickle.

[Frank2]

Yes, well, it could be said that Idiocracy is a by-product of capitalism, so, we reap what we sow...

As you said, it is alarming, but, as anyone else my age would note, we've seen the changes over the decades, and, it seems that society has been headed in that direction for a long time...

[dtrain44]

Frank, as to your point, the Challenger incident demonstrates why we need to listen to people who are smarter than us. No human is perfect in his or her judgment, but it is particularly troubling when we consciously decide to disregard the best information available in favor of convenience or personal interest. I see no better example of this than the climate change debate: the right is most guilty because of their attempt to claim there is no such phenomenon or that a real disagreement is happening in the scientific community, but a pox on the house of the left as well for the widespread belief that the effects of global warming are easily predictable in any meaningful way.

Of course, nobody could have known exactly what was going to happen at the Challenger launch, but when the smartest guy in the room starts talking, it pays to listen. Thanks for a great anecdote and the sort of story that demonstrates why the weather really is serious business.

[dtrain44]

Yes, well, it could be said that Idiocracy is a by-product of capitalism, so, we reap what we sow...

Too true, friend. Resources are irrelevant without values (be they secular or religious) to direct their application, and it does seem that we've moved in a direction that embraces the aggregation and creation of resources without the benefit of a value-based notion of how to employ them.

[Frank2]

Yes, a lack of direction is very dangerous, for many reasons - it's a journey towards the abyss, for certain, if it's not stopped very quickly...

[dtrain44]

I believe a great deal of this trend can be traced to the demand for entertainment for entertainment's sake. Being entertained by sports or weather or even a sitcom isn't enough - it has to be bundled with other "entertaining" stuff. This really bothers me on ESPN, since the blend between pop culture, sports, and music is almost complete there, but TWC is an insidious example that most people wouldn't consider. Providing good weather information doesn't seem to be enough, although I really believe that people would watch that sort of thing. You're even seeing it on The Learning Channel (example: http://tlc.discovery.com/tv-schedules/weekly.html)

As ESPN becomes a hybrid of the new MTV, Spike TV, and a minor league baseball game, stuff like Baseball Prospectus is flourishing, as the real sports fans flock to the internet and run screaming from Colin Cowherd and his disciples. I know there's a market for real sports analysis, and I know there's a market for a real weather channel. Obviously, S2K isn't a representative place at all, but that's kind of the point. There are tons of people here who would watch a real meteorologist explain the development of a severe weather outbreak, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who would rather watch a lesson on tropical cyclonogenesis than Storm Stories. Yeah, it will never win a ratings war with throat cutting on TNT, but neither is the current Weather Channel. What it would be is viable, stable, and a provider of a real product that creates an audience that's invested in it, and that's worth doing.

[Frank2]

Very true - you know, of all the folks on TWC, I prefer watching Dr. Greg Forbes the most, since he is just about weather...