TWC is officially crap

[NativeFloridaGirl]

Thank you Owen for your "behind the scenes" point of view. It's very much appreciated.

~Beth~

[Brent]

I think they have gone down hill. JMO

They fell off a cliff several years ago when they started "Atmospheres" and then "Storm Stories".

[mike18xx]

there good at everything else

They are "good" at nothing.

I can't even count on them to stand to the #^$@^% SIDE, instead of right smack front-and-center in the way of whatever feature is appearing on satellite (which they can't tell, because it's just a blue screen).

I came to utterly loathe them in the years before broadband enabled quick pulls of sat-loops -- because they would ALWAYS cross from one side of the screen to the other, meaning that if they allowed the IR to loop three times durint the Tropical Update, their stupid furry little body would be blocking one or more of them. And one of the fools would always gesture with his hand in such a way that it covered up the one feature he was talking about.

[huricanwatcher]

there good at everything else

They are "good" at nothing.

I can't even count on them to stand to the #^$@^% SIDE, instead of right smack front-and-center in the way of whatever feature is appearing on satellite (which they can't tell, because it's just a blue screen).

I came to utterly loathe them in the years before broadband enabled quick pulls of sat-loops -- because they would ALWAYS cross from one side of the screen to the other, meaning that if they allowed the IR to loop three times durint the Tropical Update, their stupid furry little body would be blocking one or more of them. And one of the fools would always gesture with his hand in such a way that it covered up the one feature he was talking about.

oh do tell us how you really feel ( just kidding )

[Ivanhater]

there good at everything else

They are "good" at nothing.

I can't even count on them to stand to the #^$@^% SIDE, instead of right smack front-and-center in the way of whatever feature is appearing on satellite (which they can't tell, because it's just a blue screen).

I came to utterly loathe them in the years before broadband enabled quick pulls of sat-loops -- because they would ALWAYS cross from one side of the screen to the other, meaning that if they allowed the IR to loop three times durint the Tropical Update, their stupid furry little body would be blocking one or more of them. And one of the fools would always gesture with his hand in such a way that it covered up the one feature he was talking about.

haaaaaaaaa, now that was funny, probably because i know exactly what your talking about! it makes me go insane

[Owen]

Well, the Operational Weather Graphics team, the guys who design all the stuff you see on-air, has a special tool that automatically blocks off the right 1/5 of the screen to allow for the OCM (on-camera meteorologist) to stand in front of. They use that system to make sure they don't put anything important there to leave room for the person's body. But yeah, unfortunately, the OCM's are not perfect all the time (if they were, you'd be watching a robot on TV), and given that it's a green screen that the OCM's are standing in front of, it's much harder than it looks to present perfectly.

And yes, there has been the constant conflict between the "general public" who have shown higher approval ratings for TWC with the onset of Atmospheres and Storm Stories versus the "weather enthusiasts" and "meteorologists" who believe otherwise. But naturally, TWC has to go with the majority, and right now, the majority of the general public likes Storm Stories. I personally believe that, just like all of you, perhaps some of the die-hard meteorologists here aren't that huge of a fan of Storm Stories either, but they all realize that once again, "general public" has to come first for TWC.

[amawea]

Well, where's the posters that were doing there good looking chicks post/vote last week. I guess they are good for a little of that.
amawea

[mike18xx]

I don't have any problems with TWC desire to become more profitable via higher ratings; what annoys me is generalized incompetence on routinely on display by the hosts (e.g., what's-his-name's comparison of Emily to Tracey).

[coco]

Years ago while we were evacuated for Andrew, the weather channel team camped out across the hall from us in the Hilton Hotel in Baton Rouge. They were pretty cool, plus after the electricity went out they kept us posted on the happenings down on the bayou.

CoCo a/k/a "Bubbette"

[Ixolib]

Well, crap may be a little strong. They provide a service that is apparently STILL making money. So, somebody sees the value. Plus, I do recall them sidelining StormStories in other times as a storm was approaching one of our coastlines.

For the most part, I'm not really sure a huge percentage of the US population outside of the coastal areas really cares too much about tropical cyclones. For instance, when there is an avalanche in the northwest, I really don't care. Same thing when there are wildfires out west - just doesn't do anything for me. Or even floods in the midwest. In fact, if I was a StormStories fan and they interrupted it to show snow sliding down a mountain or fires threatening LA, I'd probably be a little miffed. Guess it all just depends on where your geographical area is and what gets you excited about weather phenomena. For us, it's tropical weather. But not so for many others...

EDIT = and let me add that I'd have the same feeling if they interupted regular programing to highlight ANYTHING about a 'cane in either the EPAC or WPAC. Just doesn't get me excited... **shrug**

[huricanwatcher]

OMG 948 MPH as per TWC forecaster... hahahahaha

[Owen]

It isn't even really the "desire to be more profitable" as it is to "survive in the face of competition from CNN, MSNBC, and FOX." CNN has flat out said they're going to crush all weather news this season. Well, by throwing Anderson Cooper out on the beach and other reports who know nothing about weather, they're just taking a risk of getting someone injured. As per the "quality" of the stuff the OCM's say on TV....I can't comment on that, since I'm really responsible for the actual "meteorology" behind the scenes as opposed to the presentation on TV. I would assume that ad lib while standing in front of a green screen is difficult, and they realize that they sometimes "slip" with mistaken info. I have seen all too often when a commercial break begins and the OCM's are off-air, they cringe, knowing that they said something wrong. They just don't have time to correct themselves or change it on air. Or if the info. they're present was wrong, they'd go screaming to the producers in the back during commericals. It's all just a matter of minimizing the mistakes, but they happen because TWC is LIVE all the time, and it's much more complicated than it seems.

[cancunkid]

Okay perhaps I dreamed this but I could swear I read? saw? dreamed? that there was going to be another channel to broadcast weather. MSNBC or some other news channel (not Fox I wouldn't have caught that) was going to start a channel of weather broadcasting. I have been wondering ever since Dennis if I hit my head or something or maybe it is just a lack of sleep and wishful thinking

[mike18xx]

CNN has flat out said they're going to crush all weather news this season.

They might as well try, since they're barely able to keep their head up in the department of *news* "news"!

[Astro_man92]

there good at everything else

They are "good" at nothing.

I can't even count on them to stand to the #^$@^% SIDE, instead of right smack front-and-center in the way of whatever feature is appearing on satellite (which they can't tell, because it's just a blue screen).

I came to utterly loathe them in the years before broadband enabled quick pulls of sat-loops -- because they would ALWAYS cross from one side of the screen to the other, meaning that if they allowed the IR to loop three times durint the Tropical Update, their stupid furry little body would be blocking one or more of them. And one of the fools would always gesture with his hand in such a way that it covered up the one feature he was talking about.

ya that is the thing that ticks me off to. i haven't really started to watch TWC untill just recently. the day before dennis made landfall they were doing live reports and then it ticked me off when they started to play storm stories. i didn't watch it again untill 1-2 hours before landfall like about 1 pm the next day

[Jim Cantore]

I remember they cancelled Storm stories for all the hurricanes last year so I guess it's U.S landfall

[Stratosphere747]

For all the people that "hate" the TWC so much, they still seem to watch them quite a bit to have this much of a opinion.

Scott

[bevgo]

I watch TWC when there is something brewing or sometimes for the local radar when there is something going on in my area. I have been dissapointed when there ws a major storm out there and little coverage. I guess we hurricane lovers just want more to feed our addiction--LOL. I try to stay on computer when something is out there but at times that is impossible and have to rely on TWC and other TV updates. Cnn did an fairly good job with the outside, in the teeth or the storm shots though. I really love thoes. I loved the one for Cindy when a journalist was getting a shot of the trees blowing. If you were paying attention the trees were banana plants--LOL

[Brent]

Okay perhaps I dreamed this but I could swear I read? saw? dreamed? that there was going to be another channel to broadcast weather. MSNBC or some other news channel (not Fox I wouldn't have caught that) was going to start a channel of weather broadcasting. I have been wondering ever since Dennis if I hit my head or something or maybe it is just a lack of sleep and wishful thinking

You didn't... NBC started a Digital Weather Channel called WeatherPlus. It should be avaliable somewhere if you have digital cable.

[Dave C]

Funniest thing I remember back in the early 90s was when hurricane Gordon was east of Florida in late fall I believe. Vivian Brown said"There is a winter storm warning in affect for Florida." She seems to have increased her knowledge over the years(maybe Jim Cantore helped her)