DISH Network/Weather Channel Reach Renewal Agreement

[Bulldog]

How much is it really going to cost us?

Lets see now, the Weather Channel claim earlier that the original cost negotiations with Dish was equivalent to just 1 cent per subscriber more, and could not understand the problem; I wonder how much it is really going to cost us?

 

[drdroo]

Does anyone know if Dish will ever get Howard Stern TV show? His show is the only thing we miss from our old cable TV provider.

Off topic but won't happen. Howard TV is run by Indemand and InDemand is owned by the cable companies. It's technically possible, it'll just never happen.

 

[whatchel1]

who knows

Lets see now, the Weather Channel claim earlier that the original cost negotiations with Dish was equivalent to just 1 cent per subscriber more, and could not understand the problem; I wonder how much it is really going to cost us?

If you have to ask then you can't afford it.

 

[photoman76]

Here is what The Weather Cast is now showing...

The AMC 7 WeatherCast feed is showing the same screen. I guess the whole WeatherCast thing was just a Dish negotiating ploy with The Weather Channel.

 

[Stargazer]

Or maybe Dish's feed of WeatherCast was uplinked to AMC 7 just for Dish Network. I thought the satellite feed was encrypted.

Isn't FreeDBS going to have a weather channel when they launch their service? Maybe WeatherCast would want to work out a deal with them to get more viewers.

 

[CitizenX]

If you read the fine print, only 20 of the top 25 markets will get this 'special' interactive weather...

 

[RedSavina]

Speculation

If they have a way to deliver a localized "Weatherscan" similar to how it is on my local comcast system, I'll be more than thrilled. (wonder if that could be done on spotbeams for each of the local markets then mapped down to channel 213)?

One way they could do this is via our broadband connections. I suspect they don't because a) the number of ViP receivers out there isn't a high enough number (in relation to non-ViP receivers) and b) those with ViP receivers don't have them hooked up to their broadband connections.

How does DirecTV do it ? I've seen screenshots and it looks nice. I've never seen it in action though...

Here is what The Weather Cast is now showing...

After seeing the slate (thanks, Scott, for posting the screen shot as I am unable to do so), I had the same questions as dmendenjr and hall. The spotbeam solution seems like a good idea, but some of those spotbeams are pretty large. Also, that ties TWC to Dish's spotbeam arrangement. What if it changes? What if TWC wants to partner with DTV in a similar way (the release does not say this is an exclusive offering)?

I'm not up to date on the spotbeams, but how do they correlate to DMAs? Can a spot cover multiple, adjoining DMAs (I'm not talking about the geographically distant DMAs that use the same transponders)?

Does anyone have any idea of the bandwidth requirements for a local radar loop and crawler? The simplest satellite-based solution would be to put up one data feed and use mapdown/zip code filtering to show the local data. A similar solution could be done with the spotbeams if needed for bandwidth, but then you have more complicated mapping of multiple streams.

I know I'm showing my ignorance here, but I'm very curious how this could work and whether it will be CONUS or SPOT. I imagine the movers will be bummed if they cannot get their true local weather - which would require a CONUS zip code solution that uses the zip code from the point dish screen rather than the zip code on the account (service address? billing address?).

Should be interesting. I hope we see it sooner than SOON.


Red

 

[whatchel1]

Stinks

If you read the fine print, only 20 of the top 25 markets will get this 'special' interactive weather...

That really stinks. That means that the closest they will get to me is like 300 miles away from here.

 

[dmendenjr]

If you read the fine print, only 20 of the top 25 markets will get this 'special' interactive weather...

The only place I saw mention of the 20 out of top 25 markets was from TWC's press release on Weatherscan. It was referring to cable company coverage in the top 25 markets. I'm in market #39 and our local comcast offers the channel... and from what I'm to understand the few localities around here that can get FiOS can get the channel as well. However the wording from both press releases sound awfully similar.

From the TWC/Dish Press Release

...DISH Network will now be carrying two of our channels - The Weather Channel and a customized 24-hour, all-local weather information network - to provide even better service to their customers. We also look forward to working with DISH Network on other cross-platform and interactive initiatives, taking advantage of our leadership position in mobile and the Internet.

From the TWC Weatherscan Fact Release

Weatherscan by The Weather Channel® is a 24-hour, all-local weather information network available to TWC affiliates with co-branding and weather content customized for the local area. Weatherscan, which launched in 2001, is seen in 20 of the top 25 markets. Weatherscan appeals to viewers who are most interested in local weather.

 

[Yes616]

This does not sound good to me.

I am in the New York City DMA but located 85 miles LOS nothwest and around 1800 feet higher than New York. My local forecast is very different from NYC very often.

 

[kstuart]

Actually weather information is available 24 hours a day at:

Welcome to Weather Underground : Weather Underground

and

AccuWeather.com

TV is for the NBA Finals, the final episode of Lost, and perhaps for seeing weathermen blown across the lawn by hurricanes...

this is not the 1990s...

 

[Joe Capitano]

There's also Weatherbug, which has an extensive network of weather stations at schools.

But, Weathercast.

Fastest...Channel...Drop...EVER!

Let us bow our heads over this loss...OK, that's enough.

If you read the fine print, only 20 of the top 25 markets will get this 'special' interactive weather...

No, only 20 of the top 25 get it Now. Big difference.

What will be interesting to me is the way Weatherscan will be deployed on dish, be it in individual market- or state-specific channels, or ones serving broader regions (you see on 213 the one intended for your neck of the woods). Either way, if the end user gets what they want - weather on demand - we're all better served.

 

[eacalhoun]

To me, there is a mystery in why a new channel would launch to only last 4 days. Last week's press release from DISH and the promos Paul Douglas had on the new channel certainly made one think the channel would last -- maybe not forever, or years - but at least the foreseeable future. I actually placed a phone call this afternoon to WeatherNation the folks running "The Weather Cast". The lady was very nice and polite, but also rather mum and evasive when I asked what happened to the Weather Cast channel on DISH Network. She said I would need to ask Dish Network what happened? By the way, the number to WeatherNation is (952) 401-1005 which I retrieved from this webpage;
Contact Us

 

[Frank Jr.]

I watched The Weather Cast last night. I could check my regional radar and forecast. Now I have a blue screen saying The Weathercast is no longer available, "coming soon" Your local weather information from Dishnetwork and the Weather Channel......

 

[jbmiller]

i love noaa weather
NOAA's National Weather Service
john

 

[Dirtydan]

i love noaa weather
NOAA's National Weather Service
john

I agree, it is most accurate.
Dan

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I watched The Weather Cast last night. I could check my regional radar and forecast. Now I have a blue screen saying The Weathercast is no longer available, "coming soon" Your local weather information from Dishnetwork and the Weather Channel......

Made me laugh looking at that screen. Weather Cast got a blue screen of death.

Fine with me. I like TWC, and I am excited to seeing what they plan on extending to the Android environment. They already have a decent TWC widget/app for Android.

 

[Jhon69]

Is Stern doing weather now ?

If he is it would be The Naked Weather Channel!.

 

[CitizenX]

There's also Weatherbug, which has an extensive network of weather stations at schools.

But, Weathercast.

Fastest...Channel...Drop...EVER!

Let us bow our heads over this loss...OK, that's enough.



No, only 20 of the top 25 get it Now. Big difference.

What will be interesting to me is the way Weatherscan will be deployed on dish, be it in individual market- or state-specific channels, or ones serving broader regions (you see on 213 the one intended for your neck of the woods). Either way, if the end user gets what they want - weather on demand - we're all better served.

Now I see that, thanks for the correction. If it was only to be the top 25 markets, Chicago would have been the closest to my location. I hope they do find a way to get more local info.

 

[jerryez]

Here is what The Weather Cast is now showing...

For the top 20 markets out of 210 markets. My market is 52 or 54. IT does not matter. It is not the top 20. So, most of us get the same old Sh*T. NOTHING.