Editing The Weather Channel

{{short description|American  TV channel}}
{{About||other uses of "weather channel" and "weather news"|Weather news (disambiguation){{!}}Weather news}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = The Weather Channel
| logo = The Weather Channel logo 2005-present.svg
| logo_alt = The Weather Channel logo since 2005
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1982|05|02}}
| owner = [[Allen Media Group]]
| parent = Weather Group Television, LLC
| picture_format = {{Plainlist|
* [[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])
* [[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]; [[letterboxing (filming)|letterboxed]] with weather information)
}}
| country = United States
| language = [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| area = [[continental United States]] (including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands) and The Bahamas<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/3w4O3gCg0nI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20111213080900/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w4O3gCg0nI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w4O3gCg0nI |title=Nassau (Bahamas) Intellistar I: 8/5/11 1:48 A.M.|work=YouTube|date=August 16, 2011 |access-date=September 22, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
| headquarters = [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.
| sister_channels = {{Unbulleted list|[[Weatherscan]]|[[Local Now]]|[[Entertainment Studios Networks]]|[[Entertainment Studios Networks|Justice Central]]}}
| website = {{URL|https://weather.com/}}
| online_serv_1 = Official service
| online_chan_1 = {{URL|https://streamtwc.com/}}<br />(requires subscription or trial to access content)<br />
| online_serv_2 = Service(s)
| online_chan_2 = [[Frndly TV]], [[FuboTV]], [[Hulu with Live TV]],  [[YouTube TV]]
}}

'''The Weather Channel''' ('''TWC''') is an American [[pay television]] [[television channel|channel]] owned by Weather Group, LLC, a subsidiary of [[Allen Media Group]].<ref name="Entertainment Studios" /><ref name="Byron Allen" /> The channel's headquarters are located in [[Atlanta]], Georgia. Launched on May 2, 1982, the channel broadcasts [[weather forecast]]s and weather-related news and analysis, along with documentaries and entertainment programming related to weather. A sister network, [[Weatherscan]], was a [[digital cable]] and [[Satellite television|satellite]] service that offered 24-hour automated local forecasts and [[Doppler weather radar|radar]] imagery. Weatherscan was officially shut down on December 12, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weatherscan - Termination of Service |url=https://www.nctconline.org/index.php/members/resources/technical-notices/item/1874-weatherscan-termination-of-service |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=www.nctconline.org |language=en-GB |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201131929/https://www.nctconline.org/index.php/members/resources/technical-notices/item/1874-weatherscan-termination-of-service |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Weather Channel also produces outsourced weathercasts, notably for [[CBS News]] and [[RFD-TV]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/rfd-tv-connects-weather-channel-396626|title=RFD-TV Connects with the Weather Channel|date=January 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

{{As of|2023|11}}, the Weather Channel is available to approximately 68 million pay television households in the United States-down from its 2013 peak of 101 million households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref> Its influence continues to decline with growing access to [[smartphones]] and online sources.

In August 2023, it was announced that [[IBM]] was selling [[the Weather Company]] and its assets to the [[Francisco Partners]].<ref name="cnbc.com">{{Cite web |title=IBM selling The Weather Channel and the rest of its weather business|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/22/ibm-sells-the-weather-channel-and-the-rest-of-its-weather-business.html|access-date= August 22, 2023|website=www.cnbc.com |date=August 22, 2023 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History==
{{main|History of The Weather Channel}}

The Weather Channel was founded on July 18, 1980,<ref name="ReferenceA">USPTO filings: First Use (not First Use in Commerce date on various filings, including filing w/ serial number 73369821)</ref> by television meteorologist [[John Coleman (meteorologist)|John Coleman]] (who had served as a chief meteorologist at [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[owned-and-operated station]] [[WLS-TV]] in [[Chicago]] and as a forecaster for ''[[Good Morning America]]'') and [[Frank Batten]], then-president of the channel's original owner Landmark Communications (now [[Landmark Media Enterprises]]). The channel launched at 8:00&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]] on May 2, 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://weatherboy.com/weather-channel-celebrates-38th-birthday/ |author=Weatherboy Team Meteorologist |title=Weather Channel Celebrates 38th Birthday |date=May 2, 2020 |website=Weatherboy |publisher=Isarithm LLC |access-date=September 10, 2021}}</ref> Originally, regional and local information was obtained from the [[National Weather Service]] for broadcast. Since 2002, all forecasting has been done on-site in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLV1AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1456 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Journalism |title=Weather Journalism |first=Rex A. |last=Martin |editor-first=Christopher H. |editor-last=Sterling |page=1456|isbn=978-1-4522-6152-2 |year=2009 |publisher=SAGE Publications |access-date=May 1, 2021 }}</ref>

=== NBCUniversal, Bain, and Blackstone ownership ===
On January 3, 2008, [[Landmark Communications]] put the Weather Channel and its assets up for sale.<ref name="landmarksale">{{cite web |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jan/03/weather |title=The forecast is good for The Weather Channel, on sale for $5bn |date=January 3, 2008 |first=Andrew |last=Clark |access-date=May 1, 2021}}</ref> On July 6, 2008, [[NBCUniversal|NBC Universal]], [[Bain Capital]], and [[Blackstone Group]] agreed to jointly purchase the Weather Channel from Landmark, making it the channel's first ownership change in 26 years.<ref name="b&c">{{cite web |first=Robert |last=Marich |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6595811.html |title=The Weather Channel Sale Wraps |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |access-date=September 26, 2008 |archive-date=September 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915011533/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6595811.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The sale was finalized on September 12, 2008.

NBC Universal also owned [[NBC Weather Plus]], a rival service which was carried by and featured content from the [[NBC]] television network's local [[network affiliate]]s; that service announced its discontinuation three months later. [[Over-the-air programming|Over-the-air]] [[digital subchannel]]s carrying Weather Plus have since switched to the similarly formatted [[the Local AccuWeather Channel]], kept the Weather Plus engine, or switched affiliations to other networks such as [[This TV]] or the [[Retro Television Network]]; some have shut down entirely.

From November 2008 to February 2009, the Weather Channel laid off seven long-time on-camera meteorologists: Kristina Abernathy, Eboni Deon, Kristin Dodd, Rich Johnson, Cheryl Lemke, [[Mark Mancuso]] and [[Dave Schwartz]] (Schwartz would return to TWC in April 2014,<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Samenow |title=Weather Channel Brings Back Fan Favorite Dave Schwartz, My Friend |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/03/14/weather-channel-brings-back-fan-favorite-dave-schwartz/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=April 23, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Veteran Meteorologist Dave Schwartz Returns to The Weather Channel |url=http://press.weather.com/dave-schwartz/ |publisher=The Weather Channel Online Press Room |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=April 23, 2014}}</ref> but died of cancer on July 30, 2016). With the exception of Deon, all had been on the air for more than ten years, and three of them had been employed by the network for more than twenty years.

In July 2010, the Weather Channel terminated Bill Keneely, the last of the original on-camera meteorologists who appeared on the network's first broadcasts in 1982. In December of that year, the network also laid off on-camera meteorologist [[Nicole Mitchell (meteorologist)|Nicole Mitchell]], who later would file a lawsuit against the Weather Channel in 2012, alleging that she had been terminated because the channel's new owners disapproved of the time required by her simultaneous duties as a captain in the [[U.S. Air Force Reserve]] as one of the "[[Hurricane Hunters]]" team;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/18857115/article-Suit-alleges-Weather-Channel-Star-was-fired-for-military-service |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128125024/http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/18857115/article-Suit-alleges-Weather-Channel-Star-was-fired-for-military-service |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 28, 2013 |newspaper=The Marietta Daily Journal |title=Suit alleges Weather Channel Star was fired for military service |date=June 5, 2012 |access-date=September 22, 2012 }}</ref> such reserve duties are protected by U.S. law (Mitchell later served as the chief meteorologist at [[Al Jazeera America]], which for a time also employed Eboni Deon).

Inevitably, the merger of NBC on-air meteorologists began in May 2009. Former NBC Weather Plus meteorologist Todd Santos joined the Weather Channel on May 2 of that year. [[Al Roker]] of NBC's ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]'' began hosting a one-hour morning program called ''[[Wake Up With Al]]'', alongside meteorologist Stephanie Abrams later in the summer.

However, for New York City-based forecasting operations (those utilized for forecasts on [[MSNBC]] and [[CNBC]], for instance), the former NBC Weather Plus forecasting, radar and graphics systems remain in place, with banners changed to fit the Weather Channel's graphics scheme. On September 10, 2009, the Weather Channel co-founder [[Frank Batten]] died.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/multimedia/agreement.html |title=Video Submission Agreement |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019134214/http://www.weather.com/multimedia/agreement.html |archive-date=October 19, 2009 |work=The Weather Channel |access-date=November 18, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=300 Interstate N Pkwy SE |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=300+Interstate+North+Parkway,+Atlanta,+Georgia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=300+Interstate+N+Pkwy+SE,+Atlanta,+GA+30339&gl=us&ei=ZSIGS7nCH4mXtgfGwd2zCg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ8gEwAA |title=Google Maps: 300 Interstate North Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia |publisher=Google Maps|date=January 1, 1970|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref>

==== 2012 to 2018 ====
In January 2012, [[David Kenny (executive)|David Kenny]] took over as [[chief executive officer]] of the Weather Channel, replacing former [[AOL]] executive Mike Kelly, who had been appointed as the company's CEO in the summer of 2009. Although all operations, sales support and marketing and the bulk of employees are located in the headquarters in Atlanta, Kenny declined to move there, and continues to live  in [[Boston]] as a [[remote work]]er.<ref>{{cite web |author-link=David Kenny (executive) |last=Kenny |first=David |publisher=[[Twitter]] | title=David Kenny (davidwkenny) on Twitter | url=https://twitter.com/davidwkenny}}</ref>

Later in 2012, the Weather Channel's [[holding company]] changed its name from the Weather Channel Companies to [[the Weather Company]].<ref name="nameofco">{{cite news|title=The Weather Channel's Parent Company is Renamed|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/22/business/media/weather-channels-parent-company-is-renamed.html?_r=0|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 22, 2012|first=Brian|last=Stelter}}</ref> The company also purchased competing weather service and website [[Weather Underground (weather service)|Weather Underground]] the same year. On March 10, 2015, Verizon [[FiOS]] dropped the Weather Channel and WeatherScan for their rival [[AccuWeather]].

On September 9, 2015, the channel announced a phased overhaul of its programming schedule during 2016, in which the channel would gradually shift its focus back towards a forecast-based lineup. The channel cancelled ''Wake Up with Al'', citing high production costs in New York City compared to Atlanta. It announced that ''AMHQ'' would be refocused on weather, eliminating lifestyle segments, with [[Stephanie Abrams]] becoming host and original host Sam Champion as a contributor for its prime time schedule starting November 2.

The network also announced it would no longer greenlight original long-form programming, and expanded live forecast programming on its schedule throughout 2016 after all remaining long-form programs already in development concluded their runs. In a memo sent out to network staff by Weather Company CEO David Kenny, it explained its refocus on weather-based programs was done so that "our most passionate fans come to us for the weather and the science behind the weather, not our original shows." Around 50 TWC employees–including production, engineering, and financial staff–were laid off, and the television channel's budget was reduced to shift resources to the company's Internet and mobile properties.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Champion loses show in major Weather Channel shakeup |url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/09/09/media/weather-channel-sam-champion/index.html|first=Brian |last=Stelter |website=CNN Money |publisher=Time Warner |date=September 9, 2015 |access-date=September 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Champion-to-primetime">{{cite news|title=Weather Channel's Sam Champion moving to primetime; Stephanie Abrams joining AMHQ |url=http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2015/09/09/weather-channels-sam-champion-moving-to-primetime-stephanie-abrams-joining-amhq/|first=Rodney |last=Ho |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015|archive-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911222419/http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2015/09/09/weather-channels-sam-champion-moving-to-primetime-stephanie-abrams-joining-amhq/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Weather Channel Cuts Shows, Personnel, In Stormy Operating Climate |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/weather-channel-sam-champion-1201588748/|first=Brian |last=Steinberg |periodical=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|date=September 9, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name="TWC cuts shows">{{cite news|title=Weather Channel cuts shows and staff amid uncertain future |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-weather-channel-cuts-20150909-story.html |first=Stephen |last=Battaglio |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 9, 2015 |access-date=September 11, 2015}}</ref>

The channel's original format was similar to that of a news and information cable network. Since the creation of the series ''[[Atmospheres (TV series)|Atmospheres]]'' in 2000 and ''[[Storm Stories]]'' in 2003, the Weather Channel had seen a gradual transition toward a mix of weather forecasting and weather-related entertainment programming that paralleled the launch of sister network [[Weatherscan]], the evolution of the always-on "L" bar/weather ticker, the development of weather.com and popular branded mobile phone applications, and the increased viewing and interest in documentary programs on the topic of weather.

In November 2013, the channel introduced a new initiative of "weather all the time" in response to the criticism. All original programming–which was rebranded under the tagline ''Natural Drama'' – now had direct relevance to weather-related subjects, and the network emphasized its promise to interrupt original programming either regionally or nationally during major weather events. In addition, the Weather Channel extended the display of its [[lower third|lower display line]] (which was  revamped with a new graphics package) to commercial breaks and through entire broadcasts of its original programs.<ref name=wp-backtoweather>{{cite news |title=The Weather Channel is getting back to weather, sort of |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/11/14/the-weather-channel-is-getting-back-to-weather-sort-of/|first=Jason |last=Samenow |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 14, 2013|access-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref>

In August 2015, reports surfaced that the Weather Company's owners were considering a sale of all or part of the venture, having hired [[Morgan Stanley]] and PJT Partners to explore their options.<ref>{{cite news|title=Weather Channel Owners Hire Banks To Explore Sale – Report |url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/weather-channel-sale-possible-nbcuniversal-bain-capital-1201502017/|first=Erik |last=Pedersen |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|date=August 19, 2015}}</ref> On October 28, 2015, it was announced that [[IBM]] would acquire most of the Weather Company's assets, including weather.com, Weather Underground, the related mobile applications, and their underlying data platforms, for an undisclosed amount.<ref name=nyt-ibmtwc />

[[IBM]] planned to leverage its [[Watson (computer)|Watson]] technology as part of the acquisition, foreseeing its use for weather analytics and predictions. The deal, which closed the following January,<ref name="IBMpurchase">{{cite news|title=IBM Finalizes Deal for Weather Channel Product and Tech Business|url=https://www.thewrap.com/ibm-finalizes-deal-for-weather-channel-product-and-tech-business/|work=[[The Wrap]]|date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> does not include the Weather Channel itself, which remained owned by the Bain/Blackstone/NBCUniversal consortium, and entered into a long-term licensing agreement with IBM for use of its weather data and "The Weather Channel" name and branding.<ref name=nyt-ibmtwc>{{cite news|title=IBM to Acquire the Weather Company |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/technology/ibm-to-acquire-the-weather-company.html?_r=0 |access-date=October 28, 2015 |work=The New York Times| date=October 28, 2015 | last1=Hardy | first1=Quentin }}</ref><ref name=bloomberg-twcibm>{{cite news|title=IBM Agrees to Acquire Weather Channel's Digital Assets |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-28/ibm-agrees-to-acquire-weather-channel-s-digital-assets |access-date=October 28, 2015 |work=Bloomberg}}</ref><ref name=variety-stormsinrealityout>{{cite news |title=Storms Are In, Reality Shows Out As Weather Channel Gets Back to Basics |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/weather-channel-ibm-acquisition-reality-tv-1201629228/ |access-date=October 29, 2015 |work=Variety}}</ref>

=== Allen Media Group ownership ===

In August 2016, reports surfaced that [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] had expressed interest in acquiring ownership of the Weather Channel.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2016/08/03/weather-channel-sinclair-broadcasting/ |first=Tom |last=Huddleston, Jr |title=The Weather Channel Could Have a Prospective Buyer |date=August 3, 2016 |magazine=Fortune |access-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref>

On March 22, 2018, [[Byron Allen]]'s [[Entertainment Studios]] announced its acquisition of the Weather Channel's television assets from the NBCUniversal/Bain/Blackstone partnership. The actual value is undisclosed, but was reported to be around $300 million.  The channel's [[The Weather Company|non-television assets]], which were separately sold to IBM two years prior, were not included in the sale.<ref name="Entertainment Studios">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/byron-allen-entertainment-studios-acquisition-the-weather-channel-tv-network-1202351426/ |title=Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Acquires The Weather Channel TV Network For $300 Million |last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|last2=Fleming|first2=Mike |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 22, 2018|access-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Byron Allen">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/byron-allen-acquires-weather-group-300-million-deal/172512|title=Byron Allen Acquires The Weather Group in $300 Million Deal |last=Albiniak|first=Paige|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=March 22, 2018|access-date=March 22, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322203251/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/byron-allen-acquires-weather-group-300-million-deal/172512|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the early morning of April 18, 2019, the Weather Channel was temporarily unable to air live programming due to what they called a "malicious software attack" on their network.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/18/media/weather-channel-hack/index.html |title= The Weather Channel knocked off air by 'malicious software attack' |first1=Chris |last1=Isidore |first2=Paul P. |last2=Murphy |date=April 18, 2019 |work=CNN Business |access-date=May 1, 2021 }}</ref> Previously taped shows were aired while engineers worked with backup equipment, and live programming returned to normal within a few hours (at the time, ''AMHQ''). The perpetrators of the [[malware]] attack were never identified.

In May 2022, on the Weather Channel's 40th birthday, it launched a new direct-to-consumer subscription-based app.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediavillage.com/article/the-weather-channel-rolls-out-new-initiatives-as-it-looks-back-on-its-first-40-years/|title=The Weather Channel Rolls Out New Initiatives as It Looks Back on Its First 40 Years|date=April 27, 2022 |publisher=MediaVillage|access-date=May 6, 2022}}</ref>

In August 2023, IBM announced it will be selling its weather unit and the Weather Channel's subsidiaries and apps to the [[Francisco Partners]].<ref name="cnbc.com"/><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Francisco Partners to Acquire The Weather Company Assets from IBM|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/francisco-partners-to-acquire-the-weather-company-assets-from-ibm-301906730.html|access-date= August 22, 2023|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> As a part of the deal, IBM will retain the company's weather data which it uses to power [[artificial intelligence]] models to sell its enterprise clients for [[NASA]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Francisco Partners to Acquire The Weather Company Assets from IBM|url=https://newsroom.ibm.com/2023-08-22-Francisco-Partners-to-Acquire-The-Weather-Company-Assets-from-IBM|access-date= August 22, 2023|website=www.newsroom.ibm.com|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In January 2025, Allen Media Group announced plans to have [[Local news|local]] weather coverage on its sister [[Allen Media Broadcasting]] television stations be centralized from TWC and its Atlanta studios, including use of its meteorologists and forecasting technology. AMG argued that this change would "dramatically improve reporting capabilities, especially in high-stakes weather situations" and provide "additional visual storytelling capabilities". The change will result in planned layoffs of meteorologists from stations across 21 media markets, with some being reassigned to work from Atlanta. AMG's announcement faced criticism over how it would impact severe weather coverage, along with the plan to lay off meteorologists with strong connections to their respective communities. [[WBMA-LD|WBMA]] chief meteorologist [[James Spann]] stated that he "hate[d] that so many colleagues are involved in this", but admitted that "media consumption is radically different now, and we have to change how our products and services reach you".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Duster |first=Chandelis |date=2025-01-19 |title=Local meteorologists could face layoffs amid new initiative with The Weather Channel |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/19/nx-s1-5267507/local-tv-meteorologists-the-weather-channel-layoffs |access-date=2025-01-20 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Jeremy |date=2025-01-20 |title=Alabama TV meteorologists face layoffs as Allen Media moves to local Weather Channel coverage |url=https://www.al.com/news/2025/01/alabama-tv-meteorologists-face-uncertainty-as-allen-media-moves-to-local-weather-channel-coverage.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=al |language=en}}</ref> On January 23, 2025, it was reported that AMG had elected to maintain some of its local meteorologists instead, citing feedback and criticism over the announcement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koplowitz |first=Howard |date=2025-01-23 |title=Allen Media makes about-face on Weather Channel handling Huntsville, Tupelo coverage |url=https://www.al.com/news/2025/01/allen-media-makes-about-face-on-weather-channel-handling-huntsville-tupelo-coverage.html |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=al |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ho |first=Rodney |title=Allen Media's Weather Channel hub for local TV stations partially reversed |url=https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/georgia-entertainment-scene/allen-media-plan-for-weather-channel-hub-for-local-tv-stations-partially-reversed/QREUOUU6CNGH5KMOQCYYBFVBYQ/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}}</ref>

=== International versions ===
Over the years, attempts to broadcast international versions of TWC–apart from the Australian version of the Weather Channel (now [[Sky News Weather Channel]])–have failed. TWC operates websites that provide localized forecasts in [[Brazil]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[India]], [[Latin America]] and the [[United Kingdom]], but some of these sites may not have developed since 2003. The Weather Channel shares radar imagery and forecasts with [[the Weather Network]]/[[MétéoMédia]] in Canada, particularly for the Weather Channel's Canadian forecasts.
* A U.K. version of the Weather Channel operated from September 1, 1996, to January 30, 1998, when it was shut down due to low viewership. On satellite, it broadcast for five hours each day, from 6&nbsp;am until 11&nbsp;am. It shared channel space with [[Sky Movies Gold]]/[[Sky Box Office|Sky Box Office 2]], [[The Racing Channel]] and [[Galavisión (USA)|Galavision]]. On cable, it was generally on air for 24 hours but it was only carried by some companies as others chose to carry rival service [[the Weather Network]] which also launched in the UK in 1996. Both were designed for cable as it had local weather information for specific regions.
* TWC formerly operated [[The Weather Channel (Latin America)|The Weather Channel Latin America]], a [[Spanish language|Spanish-language]] network serving [[Mexico]], [[Puerto Rico]] and [[South America]]. This network launched in 1996 and an accompanying [[Brazil]]ian [[Brazilian Portuguese|Portuguese]]-language feed launched in 1998. It ceased operations on December 20, 2002, due to budget cuts. The channel's three original on-camera weather presenters were Paola Elorza, Sal Morales, and Mari Carmen Ramos; all three left the channel within a year of its launch and respectively went on to work for [[Univision]] in Miami, [[Telemundo]] in Los Angeles, and [[CNN International]] in Atlanta.

== Ratings and reception ==
{{As of|September 2018}}, the Weather Channel was received by approximately 79.128 million households that subscribe to a pay television service throughout the United States.<ref>{{cite web |author=Andrew Bucholtz |date=September 10, 2018 |title=Nielsen coverage estimates for September see gains at ESPN networks, NBCSN, and NBA TV, drops at MLBN and NFLN (Cable Network Coverage Area Household Universe Estimates: September 2018) |url=http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/nielsen-coverage-estimates-september-espn-nbcsn-nbatv-mlbn-nfln.html |access-date=September 12, 2018 |website=Awful Announcing |publisher=[[NESN|NESN Digital]]}}</ref> Americans regard the Weather Channel as the most trustworthy media organization, according to a 2022 poll by ''[[The Economist]]'' and [[YouGov]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trust in Media 2022: Where Americans get their news and who they trust for information {{!}} YouGov |url=https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/04/05/trust-media-2022-where-americans-get-news-poll |access-date=April 10, 2022 |website=today.yougov.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

==Local on the 8s==
{{Main|Local on the 8s}}'''''Local on the 8s''''' (or the '''''Local Forecast''''') is a program segment that airs on the American network the Weather Channel. It provides viewers with information on current and forecasted weather conditions for their respective area; a version of this segment is also available on the channel's national satellite feed that features forecasts for each region of the United States. The name comes from the timing of the segment, as airs at time slots that end in "8" (examples: 9:18 and 12:48); because of this manner of scheduling, the forecast segments air on the channel in ten-minute intervals. From 2006-2013, each forecast segment had usually been preceded by a [[Promo (media)|promo]] for one of the Weather Channel's programs or services, leading into the segment with the announcer stating "And now, your ''Local on the 8s''". On November 12, 2013, the promo segment was replaced by an intro that was built into the ''Local on the 8s'' segment. As of April 2018, the segment airs at approximately :18 past each hour. It also usually airs at approximately :48 past each hour during live Weather Channel broadcasts. On July 11, 2023, the music for Local on the 8s was replaced with band and jazz music.

==Related services==
===Television===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; background:#fff;"
|- style="color:white;"
! style="color:white;background:darkRed;"| Service
! style="color:white;background:darkRed;"| Description
|-
|  style="text-align:center; width:200pt;"|'''The Weather Channel HD''' || The Weather Channel launched a [[High-definition television|high definition]] [[simulcast]] feed – which broadcasts in the [[1080i]] resolution format – on September 26, 2007, initially available on [[DirecTV]]. {{As of|2014}}, all of the network's programming is currently produced in high definition (with the exception of ''[[It Could Happen Tomorrow]]'', ''[[Full Force Nature]]'' and older episodes of ''[[Storm Stories]]''), which is presented on the [[standard-definition television|standard definition]] channel in a modified [[letterboxing (filming)|letterboxed]] format that fills space that would usually be filled by black bars with weather information provided by the Lower Display Line at the bottom of the screen. The Weather Channel HD is carried on most major cable and satellite providers (such as [[Comcast Xfinity]], [[Time Warner Cable]], [[Cox Communications]], [[Cablevision]], [[AT&T U-verse]], [[Charter Communications]], [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]]), many of which added the HD feed throughout the fourth quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008.

When the HD feed was launched, none of the channel's programming was actually presented in high definition, outside of a national "satellite" version of the "Local on the 8s" segment; ''[[Epic Conditions]]'' and ''[[WeatherVentures]]'' became the channel's first two programs to be presented in HD, when they premiered on October 1, 2007. TWC began broadcasting studio programming in high definition on June 2, 2008, with the introduction of a new studio that features various environmentally friendly technologies.

The IntelliStar 2, the seventh-generation STAR system and the first to generate graphical weather data in HD, was officially released in July 2010 (although similar to previous recent STAR systems, among its modifications include an animated Lower Display Line and a Vocal Local narration track recorded by TWC meteorologist [[Jim Cantore]]).{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} The system was gradually rolled out to major U.S. cable providers strictly for use on the HD feed, and would not replace existing operational STAR units from IntelliStar and older used on TWC's standard definition feed or Weatherscan, making it one of the few channels which by necessity does not have an "autotune to HD" version for providers that utilize set-top boxes allowing HD tuning to standard definition channel positions, unless the HD version has local forecast capabilities. As of August 2015, some providers (such as Comcast) are using the IntelliStar 2 on the standard definition channel in some locations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.xfinity.com/t5/Channels-and-Programming/No-local-information-on-The-Weather-Channel/m-p/2562153/highlight/true#M62512|title=No local information on The Weather Channel|publisher=[[Comcast]] (official forum)|date=July 20, 2015|access-date=August 25, 2015|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906140830/http://forums.xfinity.com/t5/Channels-and-Programming/No-local-information-on-The-Weather-Channel/m-p/2562153/highlight/true#M62512|url-status=dead}}</ref> DirecTV began carrying the "Local on the 8s" segment in HD via an app on set-top boxes on September 29, 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/356939-DirecTV_Goes_HD_With_Weather_Channel_s_Interactive_Apps.php|author=Todd Spangler |title=Multichannel News October 6, 2009 DirecTV Goes HD With Weather Channel's Interactive Apps – Operator Says SD Version Has Generated Almost 1 billion Impressions In One Year|magazine=[[Multichannel News]]|date=October 6, 2009 |access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref>
|-
|  style="text-align:center; width:200pt;"|'''The Weather Channel on Demand''' || The Weather Channel on Demand is the channel's [[video on demand|video-on-demand]] service, offering a selection of episodes of its original series and original [[television special|specials]] to digital cable and IPTV providers. Unlike the linear television channel and its sister website, the service does not provide national or local weather forecasts.
|-
|  style="text-align:center; width:200pt;"|'''[[Weatherscan]]''' || Weatherscan (originally called Weatherscan Local until 2003) was a companion digital cable and satellite channel that was launched in 1999, which maintains a format consisting of local weather forecasts in a continuous loop uninterrupted by commercials. Available in fewer markets than the Weather Channel, it is primarily available on the digital tiers of some cable providers (however, certain systems carry Weatherscan on a basic tier, where the Weather Channel is traditionally carried); a separate feed for satellite subscribers launched on [[Dish Network]] in the summer of 2010. Weatherscan's forecast products are generated by an IntelliStar unit at the cable provider's headend, which is configured differently than those systems used by the Weather Channel; the systems feature different graphics and include additional weather products. Weatherscan displays an "L"-bar (similar to that used by the now-defunct NBC Weather Plus) that provides current conditions and weather forecasts for a particular location and its surrounding area at all times during programming, with weather information also being shown on the top right two-thirds of the screen. The channel was discontinued on December 12, 2022.
|-
|  style="text-align:center; width:200pt;"|'''[[Local Now]]''' || Local Now is a companion [[over-the-top content|over-the-top]] channel that launched on January 25, 2016. Similar in format to Weatherscan, the service maintains a format consisting of local weather forecasts, traffic reports, and news headlines as well as local news and sports in a continuous loop. The service is distributed to over-the-top streaming services modeled similarly to traditional pay television providers as well as on an app for iOS and Android for those who subscribe to the Weather Channel through pay-TV.<ref name="Champion-to-primetime"/><ref name="TWC cuts shows"/>
|}

===Radio and newspaper presence===
The Weather Channel provides forecasts for [[satellite radio]] provider [[Sirius XM Radio]] in the United States. Both services run regional forecasts on a single station, and operate several individual stations providing combined local weather and traffic information for major metropolitan areas.

The Weather Channel also simulcast on [[Sirius XM|SiriusXM]] from 2016 onward during the following storms:

==== 2016 ====

* [[Hurricane Matthew]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hear The Weather Channel's live Hurricane Matthew coverage on SiriusXM|date=October 6, 2016 |url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/hear-the-weather-channels-live-hurricane-matthew-coverage-on-siriusxm/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129111813/https://blog.siriusxm.com/hear-the-weather-channels-live-hurricane-matthew-coverage-on-siriusxm/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 2022}}</ref>

==== 2017 ====

* [[March 2017 North American blizzard]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 13, 2017|title=Hear The Weather Channel on SiriusXM Ch. 134 during nor'easter|url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/hear-the-weather-channel-on-siriusxm-ch-134-during-noreaster/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Hear & Now|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Hurricane Harvey]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Listen to The Weather Channel on SiriusXM during Hurricane Harvey|url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/hear-the-weather-channel-on-siriusxm-during-hurricane-harvey/|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=November 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122020711/http://blog.siriusxm.com/hear-the-weather-channel-on-siriusxm-during-hurricane-harvey/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Hurricane Irma]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Listen to The Weather Channel on SiriusXM during Hurricane Irma|url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/listen-to-the-weather-channel-on-siriusxm-during-hurricane-irma/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-date=August 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826043014/https://blog.siriusxm.com/listen-to-the-weather-channel-on-siriusxm-during-hurricane-irma/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 2018 ====

* [[Hurricane Florence]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 13, 2018|title=The Weather Channels Coverage of Hurricane Florence is Now FREE on SiriusXM|url=https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/the-weather-channels-coverage-of-hurricane-florence-is-now-free-on-siriusxm/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Cord Cutters News|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Hurricane Michael]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 10, 2018|title=Follow The Weather Channel's Live Hurricane Michael Coverage on SiriusXM|url=https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/10/follow-the-weather-channels-live-hurricane-michael-coverage-on-siriusxm/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Green Living Guy|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 2019 ====

* [[Hurricane Dorian]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 30, 2019|title=The Weather Channels Coverage of Hurricane Dorian Will Be FREE For All on SiriusXM|url=https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/the-weather-channels-coverage-of-hurricane-dorian-will-be-free-for-all-on-siriusxm/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Cord Cutters News|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 2020 ====

* [[Hurricane Isaias]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 3, 2020|title=Hear The Weather Channel's live Isaias coverage on SiriusXM|url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/hear-the-weather-channels-live-isaias-coverage-on-siriusxm/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Hear & Now|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Hurricane Laura]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 24, 2020|title=Listen to The Weather Channel's live tropical storm coverage on SiriusXM|url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/listen-to-the-weather-channels-live-tropical-storm-coverage-on-siriusxm/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Hear & Now|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Hurricane Sally]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 14, 2020|title=Stay informed with The Weather Channel's live Sally coverage on SiriusXM|url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/stay-informed-with-the-weather-channels-live-sally-coverage-on-siriusxm/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Hear & Now|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Hurricane Delta]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 8, 2020|title=Follow hurricane developments with live coverage from The Weather Channel|url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/follow-hurricane-developments-with-live-coverage-from-the-weather-channel/|access-date=October 8, 2020|website=Hear & Now|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Hurricane Zeta]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Follow The Weather Channel's live tropical storm coverage on SiriusXM |url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/follow-the-weather-channels-live-tropical-storm-coverage-on-siriusxm/ |website=Hear & Now |access-date=October 7, 2021 |date=October 28, 2020}}</ref>

====2021====
* [[Hurricane Ida]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Stay up to date on Hurricane Ida with live coverage from The Weather Channel |url=https://blog.siriusxm.com/stay-up-to-date-on-hurricane-ida-with-live-coverage-from-the-weather-channel/ |website=Hear & Now |access-date=October 7, 2021 |date=August 27, 2021}}</ref>

TWC also maintains content partnerships with a number of local U.S. radio stations to provide local forecasts, using announcers separate from the meteorologists seen on the television channel. For some affiliates, the Weather Channel provides a limited amount of live coverage during local [[severe weather]] events (with the Georgia-based announcers connected via [[ISDN]]). Distribution of TWC radio content is currently handled by [[Westwood One (current)|Westwood One]].

Similarly, the Weather Channel also provides weather reports for a number of newspapers around the United States. This included a half-page national forecast for ''[[USA Today]]'', for which TWC provided content until September 2012, when rival [[AccuWeather]] replaced the Weather Channel as the paper's forecast provider.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/usa-today-accuweather-partnership/73810|title=AccuWeather Announces New Partnership With USA Today|publisher=[[AccuWeather]]|date=September 17, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013020946/http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/usa-today-accuweather-partnership/73810|archive-date=October 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 2022 ====
On March 28, 2022, TWC announced a content partnership with [[CBS News]], under which it will provide weather reports on ''[[CBS Mornings]]'', the ''[[CBS Evening News]]'', and the [[CBS News (streaming service)|CBS News streaming network]], as well as collaborate on investigative journalism relating to weather and climate.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=March 28, 2022 |title=CBS News And The Weather Channel Announce Content Partnership |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/cbs-news-the-weather-channel-partnership-1234989122/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 2, 2022, the Weather Channel en Español launched on Local Now as TWC celebrates their 40th anniversary. TWC en Español has 24/7 coverage. Milmar Ramírez, Henry Golac, Jessica Fernández, Lorena Lim, Albert Martínez, and Abel Hernández leads the team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villafañe |first=Veronica |title=The Weather Channel En Español Makes Its Debut |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/veronicavillafane/2022/05/02/the-weather-channel-en-espaol-makes-its-debut/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

==== 2024 ====
It was confirmed by [[Charter Spectrum]] that the Weather Channel en Español will cease programming on December 31, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spectrum Programming Notice |url=https://d15yx0mnc9teae.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/2024-10/Texas_SouthTexas_NM_Drop%20Weather%20en%20Espanol.pdf |website=Spectrum.net}}</ref>

===Online services===
TWC provided numerous customized forecasts for online users through its website, weather.com, including home and garden, and event planning forecasts. Third-party [[web analytics]] providers [[Alexa Internet|Alexa]] and [[SimilarWeb]] rated the site as the 146th and 244th most visited website in the world respectively, as of July 2015.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/weather.com | title=Weather.com Site Overview | publisher=Alexa | access-date=July 30, 2015 | archive-date=April 13, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413165811/http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/weather.com | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="similar">{{cite web | url=http://www.similarweb.com/website/weather.com | title=Weather.com Analytics | publisher=SimilarWeb | access-date=July 30, 2015}}</ref> SimilarWeb rates the site as the second most visited weather website globally, attracting more than 126 million visitors per month.<ref name="similar" /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.similarweb.com/category/news_and_media/weather | title=Top 50 sites in the world for News And Media > Weather | publisher=SimilarWeb | access-date=July 30, 2015 | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626040528/http://www.similarweb.com/category/news_and_media/weather | url-status=dead }}</ref>

It also provided [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] access for mobile phone users, [[desktop widget]]s for quick reference by computer users, and customized weather feeds for individual websites. Cell phone customers could also receive local forecasts from TWC sent to their mobile handsets via [[Short message service|SMS]] by sending a [[text message]] with their [[ZIP code]] to 42278 (which spells "4cast"). The Weather Channel also provided weather forecasts for other online services including [[Yahoo!]].<ref>{{cite web|work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|url= http://weather.yahoo.com|title=CNN, Weather Channel win on the Web|author=Kristi E. Swartz|access-date=October 8, 2008}}</ref>

In addition, the Weather Channel maintained apps for the [[iPhone]], [[iPad]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Apple TV]], [[Kindle Fire]], and [[Windows]] mobile and tablet platforms. TWC formerly maintained two versions of its mobile applications: a free version that incorporates advertising and a pay version called "TWC Max" that does not feature advertising, [http://feedback.weather.com/knowledgebase/articles/279577-end-of-life-cancellation-notice-desktop-max the latter was discontinued in favor of an all ad-supported model on January 6, 2014]. Aside from location-based weather forecast information, the apps provided radar maps, and tropical and seasonal updates, as well as [[social media]] related functions that track weather-related [[Twitter]] messages and allow users to send [[Facebook]] friends severe weather alerts. The channel also disseminated severe weather information, and photos and videos submitted by meteorologists and viewers, on its Twitter feed ([https://www.twitter.com/twcbreaking @TWCBreaking], which also served as a [[hashtag]] usable for posts).

In July 2012, [[the Weather Company]] (former owner of the Weather Channel) purchased competing weather website [[Weather Underground (weather service)|Weather Underground]]. While the Weather Channel already had success with its own mobile apps, it planned to use Weather Underground's large network of digital forecasting and tracking websites to bolster its digital growth. Weather Underground operates separately from the Weather Channel and continues to provide its own forecasts, though its website incorporates some weather news and video content from TWC.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2143|title=Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog : Wunderground.com sold to The Weather Channel Companies &#124; Weather Underground|publisher=[[Weather Underground (weather service)|Wunderground]]|date=July 2, 2012|access-date=September 22, 2012}}</ref>

The website weather.com and most of the Weather Channel's digital assets were sold to [[IBM]] in January 2016.<ref name="IBMpurchase" /> The Weather Channel as a television operation used [http://weloveweather.tv weloveweather.tv] but this website was shut down in 2023. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019160438/https://weloveweather.tv/ |date=October 19, 2020 }}. Company information can be found on [https://www.weathergroup.com weathergroup.com]

==Programming==
{{Main|List of programs broadcast by The Weather Channel}}
Weather forecast programming made up TWC's entire schedule prior to its incorporation of weather-related original programming – referred in network promotional materials and press releases as "long-form programming" – in 2000 (with few breakaways from its forecast programs prior to then, outside of educational program ''[[The Weather Classroom]]'', an original program produced as part of the cable television industry's [[Cable in the Classroom]] initiative). The number of hours devoted to TWC's in-studio forecast programs has steadily eroded since then. The network's live studio programs are aired regularly from 6:00&nbsp;a.m. to 10:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays and from 6:00&nbsp;a.m. to 1:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time on weekends and holidays. ''[[America's Morning Headquarters]]'' airs weekdays between 6:00&nbsp;a.m. and 2:00&nbsp;p.m.  Eastern Time, followed by ''The Weather Channel LIVE'', which airs from 2:00&nbsp;p.m. to 6:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern followed by ''Weather Unfiltered'', which airs from 6:00&nbsp;p.m. to 10:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern. On weekends, ''America's Weekend Headquarters'' from 6:00&nbsp;a.m. to 9:00&nbsp;a.m., followed by ''Weekend Recharge'' from 9:00&nbsp;a.m. to 1:00&nbsp;p.m., followed by ''Pattrn'' from 1:00 to 2:00&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time.

The Weather Channel also broadcasts original weather-related documentary/entertainment series and [[television special|specials]]. These programs ran throughout the rest of the schedule. During severe weather events affecting portions of the United States, the Weather Channel may preempt original programming in favor of airing extended coverage under the umbrella title ''Weather Center Live'' (which changes the color of the word "LIVE" from blue to red) to provide long-form coverage and analysis until its aftermath; in some events, the on-air graphics (including Lower Display Line) can go black-and-red (similar to colors that WCL uses); pre-emptions vary between local (isolated to viewers in the region affected by a particular weather event) and nationwide, depending upon the impact of the weather phenomenon/story and if a local provider utilizes a later model WeatherStar unit that allows the use of dual feeds that can substitute programming with long-form weather coverage in a given area. TWC normally utilizes a different music theme for these events, dubbed "Storm Alert Mode", used for both WCL and LOT8's.

===Movies===
In a move that caused controversy with many longtime viewers, the Weather Channel began airing weather-related movies on Friday nights on October 30, 2009. The first feature to be broadcast by the channel was the 2000 film ''[[The Perfect Storm (film)|The Perfect Storm]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2009/10/the-weather-channel-to-begin-s.php|title=October 21, 2009 It's Always Fair Weather... on The Weather Channel|magazine=[[TVWeek]]|access-date=September 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023180448/https://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2009/10/the-weather-channel-to-begin-s.php|archive-date=October 23, 2009}}</ref>

After December 2009, these weekly movies were discontinued for the time being in favor of running ''[[Weather Center (2009)|Weather Center]]'', which already aired throughout primetime during the rest of the work week. Despite the controversy, the Friday night film block resumed on March 26, 2010, under the title "Flick and a Forecast," co-hosted by the Weather Channel meteorologist Jen Carfagno and MSNBC contributor [[Touré (journalist)|Touré]], with the documentary ''[[Into Thin Air|Into Thin Air: Deaths on Everest]]''. During the broadcasts, the Lower Display Line that normally appears on TWC shows to provide local weather information (with breakaways during forecast and most long-form programs only for commercial breaks) was removed, appearing only a few times each hour during the film as a substitute for the standard "Local on the 8s" segments, with a translucent TWC logo bug appearing at other times during the film when the LDL was not on-screen.

While the films shown within the "Flick and a Forecast" block were weather-related in some form, some films featured (such as ''[[Misery (film)|Misery]]'' and ''[[Deep Blue Sea (1999 film)|Deep Blue Sea]]'') had only a minimal tie to weather. On May 31, 2010, ''NewsBlues'' reported the Weather Channel's decision to cancel the movie block, due in part to viewer criticism of movies being shown on what is intended as a news and information channel, as well as a snafu that occurred during an April 2010 tornado outbreak that led to a scheduled movie being aired instead of wall-to-wall severe weather coverage. The "Flick and a Forecast" presentations were then replaced by an additional hour of ''Weather Center'' and a two-hour block of long-form original programs.

==Notable current personalities==
<!-- Only those with articles can be listed per WP:LISTPEOPLE. -->

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Personalities 
|-
! Name !! Position !! Time
|-
| [[Stephanie Abrams]] || America's Morning Headquarters & Pattrn || Weekdays 6&nbsp;am-10&nbsp;am & Weekends 1&nbsp;pm-2&nbsp;pm
|-
| [[Mike Bettes]] || Weather Unfiltered || Weekdays 6&nbsp;pm-10&nbsp;pm 
|-
| Chris Bruin || The Weather Channel LIVE || Weekdays 2&nbsp;pm-6&nbsp;pm
|-
| [[Jim Cantore]] || America's Morning Headquarters || Weekdays 6&nbsp;am-10&nbsp;am 
|-
| [[Jen Carfagno]] || America's Morning Headquarters || Weekdays 10&nbsp;am-2&nbsp;pm 
|-
| Kelly Cass || America's Weekend Headquarters || Weekends 6&nbsp;am-9&nbsp;am 
|-
| Lynette Charles || Weekend Recharge || Weekends 9&nbsp;am-1&nbsp;pm
|-
| Felicia Combs || The Weather Channel LIVE || Weekdays 2&nbsp;pm-6&nbsp;pm
|-
| [[Paul Goodloe]] || Weekend Recharge || Weekends 9&nbsp;am-1&nbsp;pm 
|-
| [[Richard Knabb|Dr. Rick Knabb]] ||  Weather Unfiltered || Weekdays 6&nbsp;pm-10&nbsp;pm 
|-
| Molly McCollum || Weekend Recharge|| Weekends 9&nbsp;am-1&nbsp;pm
|-
| Greg Postel || America's Morning Headquarters || Weekdays 10&nbsp;am-2&nbsp;pm 
|-
| Jordan Steele || America's Morning Headquarters & Pattrn  || Weekdays 6&nbsp;am-10&nbsp;am & Weekends 1&nbsp;pm-2&nbsp;pm
|-
| Alex Wallace || America's Morning Headquarters || Weekdays 10&nbsp;am-2&nbsp;pm 
|-
| Alex Wilson || Weather Unfiltered || Weekdays 6&nbsp;pm-10&nbsp;pm 
|-
| [[Reynolds Wolf]] || America's Weekend Headquarters || Weekends 6&nbsp;am-9&nbsp;am 
|}

===Reporters===
* Justin Michaels: National Correspondent
* Carl Parker: Climate Specialist

===Former personalities===
* Kristina Abernathy: 1995-2009
* [[John Coleman (news weathercaster)|John Coleman]]: Founder of the Weather Channel; deceased
* [[John Hope (meteorologist)|John Hope]]: Meteorologist/hurricane expert 1982–2002; deceased
* Betty Davis 2005–2010; Currently Chief Meteorologist at ([[WPLG]] 10) Miami 
* [[Vivian Brown (meteorologist)|Vivian Brown]]: 1989-2015
* Jeanetta Jones: 1986–2006; deceased
* [[Crystal Egger]]: 2010–2013; last with [[KNBC]] in Los Angeles
* [[Al Roker]]: 2009–2015; current co-host of ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]''
* [[Dave Schwartz]]: 1991–2008, 2014–2016; deceased
* [[Sam Champion]]: 2014–2016; now at [[WABC-TV]] in New York City
* [[Bob Stokes (meteorologist)|Bob Stokes]]:  1996-2008
* [[Anaridis Rodriguez]]: 2014–2017; now at [[WBZ-TV]] in Boston<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/boston-cbs-station-adds-weekend-morning-anchor/187507|title=Boston CBS Station Adds Weekend Morning Anchor|date=March 21, 2017 }}</ref>
* [[Maria LaRosa]]: ''Weekend Recharge'' (2010–2018) now at [[WNBC]] in New York City
* [[Bryan Norcross]]: 2010-2018, senior hurricane specialist; now at [[Fox Weather]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bryan Norcross |url=https://www.foxweather.com/person/n/bryan-norcross |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Fox Weather |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Gregory S. Forbes|Greg Forbes]]: 1999–2019<ref>{{cite web | url-access=limited  |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/274894418200/10155603497568201 |archive-date = April 30, 2022| url = https://www.facebook.com/twcdrforbes/posts/10155603497568201 |title = Dr. Greg Forbes on Facebook  |website=[[Facebook]]}}{{cbignore}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>
* Tom Niziol: 2012–2019, winter weather expert; now at Fox Weather
* Rich Johnson: 1983-1987, forecaster, 1987–2009, 2016-2018 on-camera meteorologist
* [[Jennifer Lopez (meteorologist)|Jennifer Lopez]]: 2000–2008, now with [[WSB-TV]] in Atlanta
* [[Dave Malkoff]]: Field / Feature reporter (2012–2023), now with [[CBS News]]
* Alexandria Steele: 2003–2010, later with CNN, now with [[WANF]] in Atlanta
* [[Kait Parker]]: 2014-2016
* [[Mike Seidel]]: On-Camera Meteorologist, Field Meteorologist (1992–2024, now at Fox Weather)
* Nick Walker: 1999-2019; retired
* Tevin Wooten: 2018-2022, now with [[NBC10 Boston]]
* Ari Sarsalari: 2000-2024, now with Fox Weather

==Branding==
===Logos===
The Weather Channel's first and most recognized logo was a blue rectangular box with rounded edges that debuted with the Weather Channel's first broadcast on May 2, 1982. This logo was revised in 1996, with the corners becoming less rounded and the logo becoming slightly flat. The ''weather.com'' URL text was permanently added underneath the logo in 1999. On August 15, 2005, the logo was overhauled again; the logo became a straight-edged square with no white trim on the edge and "The Weather Channel" text became oriented in title-case and left-justified, similar to its Canadian sister channel [[the Weather Network]]. A 25th-anniversary logo used in 2007 featured a white square edged in blue connected to the current logo with the text "25 YEARS" inside it in blue.

When NBCUniversal acquired the network in 2008, the network participated in the "Green is Universal" campaign, which occurs twice a year, usually during April and November. The network's logo changes to a shade of green as part of the campaign promoting environmental conservation. Since 2014, the network has utilized a red-colored version of the logo during hurricane coverage; the red logo has also appeared during severe tornado outbreaks.

{{Gallery
|title=
|width=200 | height=80 |align=center
|footer=
|File:The Weather Channel logo 1982-1996.svg|
 alt1=First logo
 |May 2, 1982–October 1996
|File:The Weather Channel logo 1996-2005.svg|
 alt2=Second logo
 |October 1996–August 15, 2005
|File:The Weather Channel logo 2005-present.svg|
 alt3=Logo for "Green is Universal" and "Earth Week" campaigns
 |August 15, 2005–present
|File:The Weather Channel Green Logo.png|
 alt4=Third logo
 |"Green is Universal" Earth Week logo
|File:TWC HD logo.svg|
 alt5=Logo for HD simulcast feed
 |The Weather Channel HD logo, 2008–present
}}

===Slogans===
* '''1982–1983''': We Take the Weather Seriously, but Not Ourselves
* '''1983–1984''': The Cable Television Network for America's Lifestyle
* '''1984–1986''': Weatherproofing America
* '''1986–1991''': You Need Us, the Weather Channel, for Everything You Do
* '''1991–1996''': Weather You Can Always Turn To
* '''1996–1998''': No Place on Earth Has Better Weather
* '''1998–2001''': Keeping You Ahead of the Storm
* '''2001–2005''': Live by It
* '''2005–2008''': Bringing Weather to Life
* '''June 2008–late 2008''': The Weather Has Never Looked Better
* '''2009–early 2010''': The Sounds of Weather. Hear It, See It, Live It
* '''2013–2020''': It's Amazing Out There
* '''2020–2024''': Get Into the Out There
* '''2024–present''': Be a force of nature

==== Promotional Campaigns ====

* '''2015–2016''': Where You Get Your Weather Matters
* '''2017–2018''': Trust in Us to Be There
* '''late 2018-early 2019''': America's #1 Weather Network
* '''2019–early 2024''': America's Most Trusted TV News Network
* '''2024–present''': America's Most Trusted News Network

==Controversy==
===Cable and satellite carriage disputes===
====Dish Network carriage dispute====
On May 20, 2010, [[Dish Network]] announced that it was dropping the Weather Channel at 12:00&nbsp;a.m. Eastern Time that day in favor of its own similar weather information channel, [[the Weather Cast]]. The [[carriage dispute]] was over the rates that the Weather Channel asked Dish Network to pay: from 11¢ per subscriber per month<ref>Stelter, Brian (May 22, 2010). [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/business/media/22weather.html Weather Channel's Move Beyond Forecasts May Be Costly]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved May 22, 2010.</ref> to 12¢,<ref name="twcdishpr">[http://www.weather.com/tv/programs/CustomerMessage.html Dish Network is dropping The Weather Channel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527142607/http://www.weather.com/tv/programs/CustomerMessage.html |date=May 27, 2013 }}. ''The Weather Channel'' news release (May 20, 2010). Retrieved May 22, 2010.</ref> a 9% increase, totaling $140,000 per month. The dispute was also over the Weather Channel's programming format shifting from an information-based channel to an entertainment-based service.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100520-715627.html|title=DISH To Replace Weather Channel With Its Own 'Weather Cast'|date=May 20, 2010|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523010909/http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100520-715627.html |archive-date=May 23, 2010 }}</ref> The Weather Channel said in a statement, "Dish has chosen to be the first distributor to drop the Weather Channel rather than pay the standard industry rates others in the industry have already agreed to pay",<ref name="twcdishpr"/> and encouraged Dish Network customers to switch to other pay television providers. Dave Shull, senior vice president for programming for Dish Network said the Weather Channel's fees were harder for the satellite provider to justify paying as more people receive weather information through the internet and mobile services: "They're looking for bid increases when I feel like there's a real migration to the Web, and it's difficult to really justify those rate increases at this time."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704513104575256880784721458?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines|title=Dish Network to Drop Weather Channel|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=May 21, 2010|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On May 24, 2010, the Weather Channel announced that it had reached a new multi-year carriage agreement with Dish Network,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://press.weather.com/press_detail.asp?id=296 |title=DISH Network and The Weather Channel Reach Agreement |publisher=The Weather Channel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305190127/http://press.weather.com/press_detail.asp?id=296 |archive-date=March 5, 2012}}</ref> the financial terms of which were not disclosed. Despite the earlier announcement that the Weather Channel would be dropped, the channel was never officially removed from Dish Network. The Weather Cast ceased operations in anticipation of the launch of a [[Weatherscan]]-based service announced as part of the agreement that would provide local weather information for Dish Network customers. The proposed movie scheduled for the Friday after the deal was struck (May 28), ''[[Gorillas in the Mist]]'', was dropped in favor of a six-hour marathon of ''Tornado Road''.

====DirecTV carriage dispute====
[[DirecTV]] removed the Weather Channel from its lineup on January 14, 2014, after the two parties were unable to come to terms on a new carriage agreement;<ref name="DirecTV-TWC">[https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/14/directtv-weather-channel/4470233/ DirecTV customers lose The Weather Channel], ''[[USA Today]]'' (via the [[Associated Press]]), January 14, 2014.</ref> as a result, DirecTV became the first major pay television provider to drop the channel in its history.<ref name="Variety"/> Two weeks before the channel's carriage agreement was set to expire on December 31 (after which the deadline for a new carriage deal was extended by two weeks), the satellite provider began carrying [[WeatherNation TV]] (the successor to the Weather Cast and owned by WeatherNation, LLC) on channel 361 on December 16, 2013–placing the channel next to the Weather Channel's slot on channel 362;<ref>{{cite news|last=Flint|first=Joe |title=DirecTV issues veiled threat in talks with Weather Channel|url= https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-directv-weather-20131226,0,3840158.story|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 26, 2013 |date=December 25, 2013}}</ref> WeatherNation replaced the Weather Channel on channel 362–while still being carried on channel 361–when TWC was pulled.<ref name="Variety">{{cite news|last=Spangler|first=Todd|title=Weather Channel Pulled from DirecTV|url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/weather-channel-pulled-from-directv-1201054279/|work=Variety|access-date=January 14, 2014|date=January 13, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Times TWC">{{cite news|last=Flint|first=Joe|title=DirecTV no longer carrying Weather Channel after contract dispute|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-weather-channel-off-directv-20140113,0,4788207.story#ixzz2qOYJ2DkU|newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 14, 2014|date=January 14, 2014}}</ref>

The Weather Channel's chief executive officer David Kenny stated that it offered DirecTV the best rate for its programming (according to SNL Kagan, the Weather Channel's average carriage fee at the time was 13¢ per subscriber), and blasted the satellite provider's removal of the channel by stating that it was putting profits ahead of public safety.<ref name="DirecTV-TWC"/> Representatives for DirecTV stated that it added WeatherNation TV in response to subscriber complaints regarding the number of reality programs on the Weather Channel, which it estimated had amounted to 40% of its daily schedule<ref name="Variety"/><ref name="Times TWC"/> (WeatherNation TV, which outside of its carriage by DirecTV is primarily carried on [[terrestrial television|broadcast television]] stations as a main channel affiliation or a [[digital subchannel|digital multicast service]], does not run programming outside of forecasts with the only interruption in its weather coverage coming from affiliates that carry children's programs to fulfill [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] [[E/I|educational programming]] requirements; however, WeatherNation has been criticized for its very limited amount of live programming, which TWC does provide, especially during significant weather events<ref>{{cite web|title=DirecTV Fight Puts WeatherNation On Radar|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/74008/directv-fight-puts-weathernation-on-radar/page/1|first=Ryan|last=Nakashima|publisher=TVNewsCheck (via the [[Associated Press]])|date=February 10, 2014|access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref>). DirecTV stated that weather information is also available through broadcast television stations carried as part of its local channel tier, as well as the provider's designated emergency channels.<ref name="Times TWC"/> The Weather Channel fought back by airing commercials encouraging people to not subscribe to DirecTV by parodying the provider's popular "Get Rid of Cable" ad campaign.

On April 8, 2014, the Weather Channel and DirecTV both settled on a new agreement (TWC decided to alter its programming lineup by trimming the amount of reality programming on weekdays in half, restricting them to its nighttime schedule, in response to complaints from DirecTV subscribers), with the provider restoring the channel on channel 362 the following day. Access to local weather content using the red button feature did not return until May 2, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lieberman|first=David|title=The Weather Channel Returns To DirecTV|url=https://deadline.com/2014/04/the-weather-channel-returns-directv-deal-711602/|website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 8, 2014|date=April 8, 2014}}</ref>

====Verizon FiOS removal and return====
[[Verizon FiOS]] dropped the Weather Channel and its sister network Weatherscan from its lineup on March 10, 2015, after the two parties were unable to come to terms on a new carriage agreement. The services have respectively been replaced by the [[AccuWeather Network]] (which launched on March 10) and a [[Software widget|widget]] provided by FiOS featuring forecast content provided by [[WeatherBug]]. No public announcement was made regarding the removal until over 12 hours after TWC and Weatherscan were pulled.<ref>{{cite news|title=Verizon FiOS drops the Weather Channel|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-verizon-fios-drops-the-weather-channel-20150311-story.html|author=Yvonne Villarreal|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Verizon FiOS drops the Weather Channel|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/03/10/media/weather-channel-verizon-fios/|author=[[Brian Stelter]]|work=[[CNN Money]]|date=March 10, 2015|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=AccuWeather Launches Its First National Weather Channel|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/accuweather-launches-first-national-weather-781344|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|author=Beatrice Verhoeven|date=March 13, 2015|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref> The Weather Channel offered a less expensive deal to Verizon FiOS, which rejected the offer. Verizon cited the Weather Channel's frequent use of scare tactics, naming of winter storms and the wide availability of the internet and mobile apps for consumers to access weather content any time of day as the reason for dropping TWC and its services.<ref>{{cite news|title=Verizon FiOS drops Weather Channel over contract|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/03/10/verizon-fios-drops-weather-channel/24728747/|author=Roger Yu|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|date=March 10, 2015|access-date=March 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Verizon drops The Weather Channel, claiming internet killed the weatherman|url=https://qz.com/359445/verizon-drops-the-weather-channel-claiming-internet-killed-the-weatherman/|work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]|date=March 10, 2015}}</ref> It is unknown if [[FiOS from Frontier|Frontier FiOS]] customers in clusters formerly served by Verizon are affected, including (as of April 1, 2016) the recently acquired clusters from California, Texas, and Florida.

A representative for the network said in a statement, "We were disappointed when, without warning late yesterday, March 9, Verizon FiOS dropped the Weather Channel from their lineup while our companies continued to be in active conversations regarding a contract renewal. FiOS customers have enjoyed a bundle of services from the Weather Channel including the network, Weatherscan, On-Demand, a Weather Widget and streaming on mobile devices. During a winter with record-breaking storms and severe weather, the Weather Channel responded with non-stop live coverage, including the ongoing presence of our crews reporting live from hard-hit communities within the Verizon FiOS footprint. This coverage resulted in the Weather Channel being the only major cable network to grow in February."

The Weather Channel had earlier signed renewal agreements with major providers that are members of the National Cable Television Cooperative, including [[Time Warner Cable]] and [[Cox Communications]]. However, representatives for the channel claimed to be shocked that "Verizon FiOS would deny their subscribers access to the best live weather coverage and expertise that only the Weather Channel can provide." While Verizon claimed it was a long-term business decision (instead of a carriage dispute) that it made, the Weather Channel launched a campaign, originally urging viewers to contact FiOS about restoring the cable channel and its services. But, seeing that Verizon is not planning on bringing the channel and its services back in the near future, the Weather Channel now urges its viewers to switch providers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Verizon FiOS drops The Weather Channel - Our Statement|url=http://www.keeptheweatherchannel.com/statement|work=The Weather Channel|access-date=March 16, 2015|archive-date=March 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315051339/http://www.keeptheweatherchannel.com/statement|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After a four-year absence and with the channel under ownership of Entertainment Studios, Verizon FiOS inked a new agreement to bring the Weather Channel back to its lineups on June 24, 2019.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2019/06/the-weather-channel-returns-to-verizon-fios-after-four-year-absence-1202634901/ The Weather Channel Returns To Verizon Fios After Four-Year Absence] - ''Deadline'' (published June 19, 2019; accessed June 20, 2019)</ref> The channel has not returned to channel lineups within Frontier FiOS's customer footprint until 2021 with the company's partnership with [[YouTube TV]].

==={{anchor|Winter storm names}}Winter storm naming===
{{see also|Winter storm naming in the United States}}
In the fall of 2012, the Weather Channel began to assign names to major winter storm systems. The channel stated the decision to start naming notable winter storms came as a way to more easily spread knowledge and raise awareness. By naming winter storms, TWC stated that the public would find it easier to follow storm information, social media will be able to refer to and discuss the storm, and people will have an easier time referring to the storm after it occurs. However, critics of the Weather Channel insist it is a way to further hype winter weather, especially on the heavily populated [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]]. Critics contend that (south of Boston), many other areas of the United States actually experience much more frequent and intense winter weather than the East Coast, but does not have as large of a media market.<ref name="why names">{{cite web|last=Niziol |first=Tom |title=Why The Weather Channel is Naming Winter Storms |url=http://www.weather.com/news/why-we-name-winter-storms-20121001 |work=weather.com |publisher=The Weather Channel |access-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210223956/http://www.weather.com/news/why-we-name-winter-storms-20121001 |archive-date=February 10, 2013 }}</ref>

The first winter storm to be named by TWC was a [[nor'easter]] that hit the [[East Coast of the United States]] in [[November 2012 nor'easter|November 2012]], which was named after the Greek goddess [[Athena]]. During the 2012–13 season, the Weather Channel named 27 winter storms ([[November 2012 nor'easter|Athena]], Brutus, Caesar, [[December 17–22, 2012 North American blizzard|Draco]], [[Late December 2012 North American storm complex|Euclid]], Freyr, Gandolf, Helen, Iago, Jove, Khan, Luna, Magnus, [[February 2013 nor'easter|Nemo]], Orko, Plato, Q, [[February 2013 Great Plains blizzard|Rocky]], [[March 2013 nor'easter|Saturn]], Triton, [[Late March 2013 North American winter storm|Ukko]], Virgil, Walda, Xerxes, Yogi, Zeus and Achilles).<ref>{{cite web|title=Winter 2012-13: Named Storms from 'A' to 'Z' (and 'A' Again)|url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/named-winter-storms-2012-2013-a-to-z-20130318|work=weather.com|publisher=The Weather Channel|access-date=June 18, 2013|archive-date=May 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531053030/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/named-winter-storms-2012-2013-a-to-z-20130318|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 2013–14 season, the Weather Channel named 26 winter storms (Atlas, Boreas, Cleon, Dion, Electra, Falco, Gemini, Hercules, Ion, Janus, Kronos, Leon, Maximus, Nika, Orion, [[Mid-February 2014 North American winter storm|Pax]], Seneca, Titan, Ulysses, Vulcan, Wiley, Xenia, Yona, and Zephyr). Multiple factors are taken into consideration when deciding whether to name a winter storm. This includes, but is not limited to, predicted snowfall and other precipitation, wind speeds, and the timing of the storm.<ref name="why names"/>

The Weather Channel has provided the criteria behind their decisions to name certain storms, in particular Athena,<ref name="TWC-Athena"/> Brutus,<ref>{{cite web|title=Winter Storm Brutus: Why We Named It|url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/winter-storm-brutus-naming-20121108|work=weather.com|publisher=The Weather Channel|access-date=February 9, 2013|archive-date=January 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113215228/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/winter-storm-brutus-naming-20121108|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gandolf,<ref>{{cite web|last=Niziol|first=Tom|title=Winter Storm Gandolf: Why We Named It|url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-gandolf-20130109|work=weather.com|publisher=The Weather Channel|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-date=March 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317043948/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-gandolf-20130109|url-status=dead}}</ref> Iago,<ref name="TWC-Iago"/> Khan,<ref name="TWC-Khan"/> Luna,<ref name="TWC-Luna"/> Magnus,<ref name="TWC-Magnus"/> Nemo,<ref name="TWC-Nemo"/> Saturn,<ref name="TWC-Saturn"/> and Virgil.<ref name="TWC-Virgil"/>

In response, the [[National Weather Service]] announced on November 7, 2012, that it would not recognize the Weather Channel's names for winter storms, stating in a press release that it "does not use the name of winter storms in its products."<ref name="Samenow2012"/><ref name="FNC2012"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Winter Storm Athena Forecast Impacts|url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/noreaster-post-sandy-20121105|publisher=The Weather Channel|access-date=November 7, 2012|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107010156/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/noreaster-post-sandy-20121105|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some commentators have suggested that naming winter storms may give them undue importance in the public eye by drawing parallels to official names given by the National Weather Service to [[Tropical cyclone|tropical storms]], which are significantly more severe and devastating than winter storms.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/qMGn9T37eR8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20191031045041/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMGn9T37eR8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=Weather: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)| date=October 13, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMGn9T37eR8|language=en|access-date=February 20, 2020}}{{cbignore}} starting from 7:05</ref> References to the names are generally limited on TWC-provided forecasts seen on NBC's [[NBC News|news programs]].

===Keffiyeh ad removal===
On October 9, 2024, the Twitter account for the organization [[StopAntisemitism]] (@StopAntisemites) posted a picture of an advertisement for the Weather Channel featuring a woman wearing a [[Palestinian keffiyeh]] around her neck.<ref name="DD10112024">{{cite news |last1=Huggins |first1=Katherine |title=Weather Channel ad featuring woman in keffiyeh causes absolute meltdown |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/weather-channel-keffieyh-ad-backlash/ |access-date=October 12, 2024 |work=[[The Daily Dot]] |date=October 11, 2024 |quote=The Weather Channel managed to upset both sides.}}</ref><ref name="CAIR10122024">{{cite news |last1=Hooper |first1=Ibrahim |title=CAIR Calls on The Weather Channel to Apologize for Denigrating Palestinian Culture, Agreeing with Hate Group |url=https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-on-the-weather-channel-to-apologize-for-denigrating-palestinian-culture-agreeing-with-hate-group/ |access-date=October 12, 2024 |work=[[Council on American–Islamic Relations|CAIR]] |date=October 12, 2024}}</ref> According to [[Bill Ackman]], the advertisement (made for the Weather Channel App) was produced by parent company The Weather Company under Francisco Partners.<ref name="DD10112024" /> The @StopAntisemites account falsely stated that the keffiyeh is a [[hate symbol]] associated with [[violence against Jews]] following the [[October 7th attacks]] from a year prior, inciting pro-Israelis to demand that the Weather Channel withdraw the ad.<ref name="DD10112024" /> In actuality, keffiyehs are a traditional Middle Eastern clothing for sun protection (the [[Sudra (headdress)|sudra]] being the Jewish analogue),<ref name="CAIR10122024" /><ref name="Bartlett1973">{{cite book|author=J. R. Bartlett|title=The First and Second Books of the Maccabees|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uj44AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA246|access-date=12 October 2024|date=19 July 1973|publisher=CUP Archive|isbn=978-0-521-09749-9|page=246|quote=traditional Jewish head-dress was either something like the Arab's ''Keffiyeh'' (a cotton square folded and wound around a head) or like a turban or stocking cap}}</ref> with a black-and-white pattern being used to represent [[Palestinian nationalism|nationalism]] for the [[State of Palestine]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sottile |first=Zoe |date=2023-11-28 |title=The Palestinian keffiyeh explained: How this scarf became a national symbol |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/28/style/style-palestinian-keffiyeh-explained/index.html |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref>.

The @TheWeatherChannel account responded to @StopAntisemites, apologizing for any offense they caused, stating that they do not condone anti-Semitism in any form and that they were withdrawing the ad.<ref name="DD10112024" /><ref name="CAIR10122024" /> The Weather Channel's response earned backlash from pro-Palestinians, who cited the true meaning of the keffiyeh and accused the Weather Channel of caving to [[Islamophobic]] and [[anti-Palestinian]] propaganda.<ref name="DD10112024" /><ref name="CAIR10122024" /> The [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]] (CAIR) condemned The Weather Channel for agreeing with the "right-wing extremist" StopAntisemitism (alleging the organization and its founder of having a history of pushing [[new anti-Semitism]], [[Anti-African sentiment]], and [[self-hating Jew]] rhetoric)<ref name="CAIR10122024" /> and regarding keffiyehs as a hate symbol, for which CAIR demanded an apology, stating: "The Weather Channel must apologize for bowing to the racist demands of an anti-Palestinian hate group and seeming to agree with their mustache position that any expression of Palestinian heritage is by definition 'antisemitic.' The keffiyeh is traditional Palestinian attire and has nothing to do with antisemitism. It is because of hate speech like this that [[Anti-Palestinianism during the Gaza war|Palestinian Americans have literally been stabbed and shot for wearing the keffiyeh over the past year]]. It must stop. The Weather Channel must apologize."<ref name="CAIR10122024" />

Covering the controversy, the conservative [[Jewish News Syndicate]] sided with StopAntisemitism's stance, saying "the distinctive black-and-white keffiyeh has long been associated with the Palestinian war of annihilation against the Jewish state."<ref>{{cite news |author1=<!--not stated--> |title='Weather Channel' apologizes, retracts keffiyeh ad campaign |url=https://www.jns.org/weather-channel-apologies-retracts-keffiyeh-ad-campaign/ |access-date=Oct 18, 2024 |work=[[Jewish News Syndicate]] |date=Oct 13, 2024 |quote=The Weather Channel, a U.S. pay television content provider, apologized on Thursday for an ad campaign that featured a woman wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, a symbol often associated with terrorism against Israel and Jews worldwide.}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Weather}}
* [[Weather media in the United States]]
* [[The Weather Network]] – A Canadian [[Category A services|Category A]] cable and satellite channel devoted to weather forecasts.
* [[WeatherStar]] – A series of proprietary computer units installed at the head end of cable television providers that disseminate weather data.
* [[The Weather Company]] – The former parent company of the Weather Channel.
* ''[[The Weather Channel Presents: The Best of Smooth Jazz]]'' - the first jazz album released by the channel
* [[NBC Weather Plus]]
* [[Fox Weather]]

==References==
<references>
<ref name="FNC2012">{{cite news |title=Weather Channel names nor'easter, National Weather Service says not so fast |url=http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/11/07/weather-channel-names-noreaster-national-weather-service-says-not-so-fast/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107233627/http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/11/07/weather-channel-names-noreaster-national-weather-service-says-not-so-fast/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |publisher=FNC |access-date=November 7, 2012 |date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Samenow2012">{{cite news |author=Jason Samenow |title=National Weather Service: Just say no to Athena |date=November 7, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/national-weather-service-just-say-no-to-athena/2012/11/07/2eee7154-28e8-11e2-bab2-eda299503684_blog.html |access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="TWC-Athena">{{cite web |author=Tom Niziol |title=Winter Storm Athena: Why We Named It |url=http://www.weather.com/news/naming-athena-20121107 |website=The Weather Channel |access-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202193442/http://www.weather.com/news/naming-athena-20121107 |archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="TWC-Iago">{{cite web |author=Tom Niziol |title=Winter Storm Iago: Why We Named It|url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-iago-20130117 |website=The Weather Channel |access-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210181157/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-iago-20130117 |archive-date=February 10, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="TWC-Luna">{{cite web |author=Tom Niziol |title=Winter Storm Luna: Why We Named It |url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-luna-20130125 |website=The Weather Channel |access-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202205831/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-luna-20130125 |archive-date=February 2, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="TWC-Khan">{{cite web |author=Tom Niziol |title=Winter Storm Khan: Why We Named It |url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-khan-20130125 |website=The Weather Channel |access-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130225350/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-khan-20130125 |archive-date=January 30, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="TWC-Magnus">{{cite web |author=Tom Niziol |title=Winter Storm Magnus: Why We Named It |url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-magnus-20130129 |website=The Weather Channel |access-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202192642/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-magnus-20130129 |archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="TWC-Nemo">{{cite web |author=Tom Niziol |title=Winter Storm Nemo: Why We Named It |url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-nemo-20130206 |website=The Weather Channel |access-date=February 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305153913/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-nemo-20130206 |archive-date=March 5, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="TWC-Saturn">{{cite web |title=Winter Storm Saturn: Eastern Beast |url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/winter-storm-saturn-east-midwest-west |publisher=The Weather Channel |access-date=March 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307102631/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/winter-storm-saturn-east-midwest-west |archive-date=March 7, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="TWC-Virgil">{{cite web |author=Tom Niziol |title=Winter Storm Virgil: Why We Named It |url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-virgil-20130322 |website=The Weather Channel |access-date=April 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202192640/http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/why-we-named-gandolf-20130109 |archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref>
</references>

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website|https://www.weather.com|The Weather Channel}}
* {{official website|https://www.weathergroup.com/|The Weather Group}}

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