TWC Coverage

[Guest]

although ive never really been a big fan of TWC, i started watching it probably 15 years ago. the NOAA forecasts are much better, shame on TWC or whomever for not continuing, because their (TWC) forecasts arent very accurate and i wont even get into the TV people lol

[Miss Mary]

Everyone - please read my reply on this thread, page 1. Don't usually ask members to do this but I really think my suggestion might be the answer. I'd welcome feedback also. Then if enough people think I'm onto something, maybe we can begin writing to TWC.

I ask this because, let's face it, TWC will not eliminate fluff pieces. They're here to stay, IMHO.

Mary

[Rainband]

Very Good Idea Mary

[GAStorm]

Here is what I think TWC needs to do, to keep viewers happy:

Create two Weather Channels:

TWC1 - weather only. The way TWC used to be.

TWC2 - fluff pieces, storm stories, allergy info, gardening tips, survival tips for specific storms/seasons, etc.

Think MTV here. I can clearly remember when MTV started and how nearly ~everyone~ but my parent's generation was talking about this new cable channel. The song - I want my MTV - comes to mind. Everyone wanted this channel when signing up for cable. Somewhere along the line I didn't watch it as much, had kids, I don't know, just got busy or grew up. LOL So I never noticed how MTV1 greatly deviated from it's original format, much the same way TWC has done. Then my teen girls would say - we hate MTV, it's all shows now, very few videos. Next we got Satellite TV and voila, both MTV channels are offered on our tier. My oldest daughter is so happy! She loves MTV2 and has asked me at least 10 times to share early MTV stories.

So the two channels come to mind when I read about this debate (I've read this on other boards too).

Trouble is TWC isn't listening to viewers at all. They don't even seem to encourage feedback. It's as if a robot is running the station. Or Hal the Computer (2001 Space Odyssey).

This is definitely the answer Mary! They need to start taking suggestions like this seriously. If TWC doesn't shape up, I might need to drive over there and protest! They are right up the street from me, so I wouldn't have to drive far!

[Miss Mary]

Well, there you go Chris - protest, protest!!!!

First we should try polite letters though. Can't irritate them right off the bat!!!

Thanks Chris and Johnathan for the feedback.

Mary

[snoopj]

I like it. This junk on TWC right now is starting to mirror MTV in some regards. I like a good Storm Stories, but not when there is a significant outbreak going on. Even before the recent downturn at TWC, I remember seeing it as one of the most watched cable channels. Apparently, they are letting that remark go to their inflated egos.

--snoopj

[Miss Mary]

snoopj - I think most of us agree with you. When severe weather is breaking, that should be THE lead story, not some already programmed storm story. That in itself seems to be the #1 complaint from viewers that post on message boards about TWC. If we could get them to see that wx should be the first priority, then maybe we'd get somewhere. It would be a start. Last week/weekend was a wild one in the Midwest. I didn't have time to tune in much to TWC. Did they preempt regular programming to cover the situation?

Mary

[snoopj]

Quite honestly, while all that was going on, I didn't even hit TWC. Local TV in KC had a better vantage point than TWC ever would have.

--snoopj

[Miss Mary]

snoopj - same here, I turned to local stations when it arrived in the Cincinnati area. And they suspended local programming, for hours! Live on-air Mets giving up to the minute reports.

If TWC were to implement 2 stations and have one be all-wx, I wonder if in addition to current severe wx experts on-air, if they could tap into local stations too. Have a PIP going on. For example, "we have on-air Cincinnati's own Tim Hedrick, from Channel 12" (he's my wx authority, locally speaking!). TWC can't send a crew out to each area affected by severe wx but if they had an agreement in place, to air local Mets from major cities across the U.S. for even more local coverage, then we'd really be covering up to the minute reporting.

The possibilities are endless here. First TWC needs to acknowledge viewers aren't happy. That would be a start.

Mary

[Lindaloo]

The Weather Channel used to be the place to go for the weather. I used to have it on that channel all the time. Now I cringe at the thought of it.

[simplykristi]

When we have severe weather outbreaks around here in KC, I turn to the local stations. Two of the stations have news copters. I got a front row seat of the tornado last Sat. that hit Dearborn MO. I had never seen a tornado form live on TV like that.

[snoopj]

One of the only reasons I took the 5-4-03 storm super seriously was those helicopters in the air as they tracked the first tornado over in Kansas City, KS. Seeing the damage path it left, it made me realize that I needed to seek shelter before that black cloud of doom hit. I don't think it REALLY hit me what was happening until I saw that. The 5 (yes, 5!) sirens in my area didn't even phase me. It was the pictures of homes ripped apart, damage to cars, and the tornado itself that made me realize just how dangerous that situation was. The Weather Channel was not going to provide me ANY help at that time. I still had to get through the Weekend Planner and the Traveler's Forecast (plus, two Weather on the 8s) before Storm Watch.

--snoopj