The Weather Channel (TWC), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American pay television channel established on May 2, 1982. Owned by Weather Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Allen Media Group, it delivers weather forecasts, related news and analysis, documentaries, and weather-related entertainment. Notably, The Weather Channel also provides weathercasts for CBS News and RFD-TV. Its sister network, Weatherscan, providing 24/7 automated local forecasts and radar imagery, ceased operations on December 12, 2022.
July 18, 1980: The Weather Channel Founding
The Weather Channel was established on July 18, 1980, by John Coleman, a renowned television meteorologist, and Frank Batten, then-president of Landmark Communications.
May 2, 1982: The Weather Channel Launch
The Weather Channel (TWC) made its debut on May 2, 1982, bringing weather forecasts, news, and analysis to viewers across the United States.
1982: Original On-Air Team Debut
The Weather Channel's first broadcasts in 1982 featured its original team of on-camera meteorologists, including Bill Keneely.
1996: The Weather Channel Logo Modified
The Weather Channel's logo, first introduced in 1982, was modified in 1996. The corners were made less rounded, and the design was slightly flattened.
1999: Addition of weather.com to the Logo
The year 1999 saw a subtle but significant change to The Weather Channel's logo: the URL "weather.com" was permanently added beneath it, reflecting the growing importance of the internet.
2000: The Weather Channel Incorporates Original Programming
Before 2000, The Weather Channel primarily broadcasted weather forecasts. This changed in 2000 when the channel began to incorporate weather-related original programming, marking a shift towards more diverse content.
2000: Atmospheres Premieres
The launch of the series "Atmospheres" in 2000 marked a turning point for The Weather Channel as it began incorporating more weather-related entertainment programming.
2000: Release of "The Perfect Storm"
The year 2000 saw the release of the film "The Perfect Storm," which would later be the first movie aired by The Weather Channel in 2009.
2002: Shift to In-House Forecasting
In 2002, The Weather Channel transitioned from relying on the National Weather Service to conducting all its forecasting in-house at its Atlanta headquarters, marking a significant change in its operations.
2003: International Expansion of The Weather Channel
Attempts to create international versions of The Weather Channel, except for the Australian version, have been unsuccessful. The Weather Channel provides localized forecasts through its websites for countries like Brazil, France, Germany, India, Latin America, and the United Kingdom. Some of these sites might not have been updated since 2003. The Weather Channel collaborates with The Weather Network in Canada, sharing radar imagery and forecasts.
2003: Storm Stories Debuts
The Weather Channel introduced the series "Storm Stories" in 2003, further expanding its lineup of weather-related entertainment programming.
August 15, 2005: The Weather Channel's Logo Undergoes a Major Overhaul
On August 15, 2005, The Weather Channel's logo underwent another significant redesign, changing from a rounded rectangle to a straight-edged square and adopting a left-justified, title-case text format.
October 1, 2007: The Weather Channel Launches HD Programming
When The Weather Channel launched its HD feed, initially, only the national "satellite" version of the "Local on the 8s" segment was in high definition. The first programs to be broadcasted in HD were "Epic Conditions" and "WeatherVentures," which premiered on October 1, 2007.
2007: The Weather Channel Celebrates 25 Years with Special Logo
In 2007, The Weather Channel marked its 25th anniversary with a special logo that incorporated the text "25 YEARS" within a white square connected to the current logo.
January 3, 2008: The Weather Channel Put Up for Sale
Landmark Communications announced its decision to sell The Weather Channel and its assets, initiating the channel's first change in ownership after 26 years.
June 2, 2008: The Weather Channel Introduces New HD Studio
On June 2, 2008, The Weather Channel started broadcasting studio programming in high definition. This was made possible with the introduction of a new studio equipped with various eco-friendly technologies.
July 6, 2008: Agreement Reached for The Weather Channel Acquisition
A consortium comprising NBC Universal, Bain Capital, and Blackstone Group entered into an agreement to acquire The Weather Channel from Landmark Communications on July 6, 2008.
September 12, 2008: The Weather Channel Officially Changes Hands
The sale of The Weather Channel to NBC Universal, Bain Capital, and Blackstone Group was finalized on September 12, 2008, marking a new chapter for the channel.
November 2008: Layoffs Begin at The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel initiated a series of layoffs, starting in November 2008, impacting several on-camera meteorologists.
2008: NBCUniversal Acquires The Weather Channel
Following its acquisition by NBCUniversal in 2008, The Weather Channel began participating in the "Green is Universal" campaign, temporarily changing its logo to green to promote environmentalism.
February 2009: Layoffs Conclude at The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel concluded its round of layoffs in February 2009, resulting in the departure of several experienced on-camera meteorologists.
May 2009: NBC Meteorologists Join The Weather Channel
Following the merger, NBC Weather Plus meteorologist Todd Santos joined The Weather Channel on May 2, 2009, marking the beginning of NBC on-air talent joining the network.
September 10, 2009: Frank Batten Passes Away
Frank Batten, a co-founder of The Weather Channel, died on September 10, 2009.
September 29, 2009: DirecTV Offers HD "Local on the 8s" Segment
On September 29, 2009, DirecTV started offering the "Local on the 8s" segment from The Weather Channel in HD through a dedicated app on their set-top boxes.
October 30, 2009: The Weather Channel Begins Airing Movies
On October 30, 2009, The Weather Channel sparked controversy by introducing weather-related movies on Friday nights, beginning with "The Perfect Storm" (2000).
December 2009: Temporary Discontinuation of Weekly Movies
In December 2009, The Weather Channel temporarily discontinued its weekly movie broadcasts, opting to air more of its "Weather Center" program.
2009: Mike Kelly Appointed CEO
Mike Kelly, a former AOL executive, was appointed as the CEO of The Weather Channel in the summer of 2009.
March 26, 2010: "Flick and a Forecast" Block Launched
Despite controversy, The Weather Channel resumed its Friday night movie block on March 26, 2010, under the name "Flick and a Forecast," co-hosted by meteorologist Jen Carfagno and MSNBC contributor Touré. The documentary "Into Thin Air: Deaths on Everest" was the first film shown.
April 2010: Tornado Outbreak Disrupts Programming
In April 2010, a scheduled movie aired instead of wall-to-wall severe weather coverage during a tornado outbreak, contributing to the controversy surrounding the "Flick and a Forecast" block.
May 20, 2010: Dish Network Drops The Weather Channel
On May 20, 2010, Dish Network dropped The Weather Channel due to a pricing dispute and concerns about the channel shifting towards entertainment-based programming. Dish Network replaced it with its own channel, The Weather Cast.
May 24, 2010: The Weather Channel and Dish Network Reach Agreement
Just four days after dropping The Weather Channel, Dish Network reached a new multi-year carriage agreement on May 24, 2010. Although the financial terms weren't disclosed, this agreement led to the shutdown of The Weather Cast and the return of The Weather Channel to Dish Network.
May 31, 2010: Cancellation of "Flick and a Forecast"
On May 31, 2010, following viewer criticism and an incident where a scheduled movie aired instead of coverage during a tornado outbreak, The Weather Channel canceled "Flick and a Forecast."
July 2010: Bill Keneely's Tenure Ends
The Weather Channel let go of Bill Keneely, the last of the original on-camera meteorologists who were part of the network's first broadcasts in 1982.
July 2010: The Weather Channel Releases IntelliStar 2
The Weather Channel officially released IntelliStar 2 in July 2010, its seventh-generation STAR system and the first to generate graphical weather data in HD. It featured an animated Lower Display Line and a Vocal Local narration by TWC meteorologist Jim Cantore. It was gradually implemented by major U.S. cable providers, exclusively for the HD feed, without replacing existing STAR units used for the standard definition feed or Weatherscan.
January 2012: David Kenny Becomes CEO
David Kenny assumed the role of chief executive officer at The Weather Channel in January 2012, succeeding Mike Kelly.
July 2012: The Weather Company Acquires Weather Underground
In July 2012, The Weather Company acquired Weather Underground, a competing weather website, to leverage its vast network of digital forecasting and tracking websites to enhance its digital presence. While Weather Underground continues to operate independently with its own forecasts, its website incorporates some weather news and video content from The Weather Channel.
September 2012: AccuWeather Replaces The Weather Channel in USA Today
Until September 2012, The Weather Channel provided weather reports for several U.S. newspapers, including a national forecast for USA Today. AccuWeather then replaced The Weather Channel as the newspaper's weather information provider.
November 7, 2012: National Weather Service Refuses to Recognize The Weather Channel's Winter Storm Names
The National Weather Service announced on November 7, 2012, that it would not use The Weather Channel's names for winter storms, stating that it "does not use the name of winter storms in its products."
November 2012: The Weather Channel Names First Winter Storm "Athena"
The Weather Channel named its first winter storm in November 2012 "Athena," a nor'easter that impacted the East Coast of the United States.
2012: The Weather Company Acquires Weather Underground
The Weather Channel's holding company, renamed The Weather Company, acquired the weather service and website Weather Underground, expanding its portfolio.
2012: The Weather Channel Begins Naming Winter Storms
In the fall of 2012, The Weather Channel made the decision to start naming notable winter storms, a move they stated was intended to make it easier to communicate information about these events and increase public awareness.
2012: Nicole Mitchell Files Lawsuit
Former Weather Channel meteorologist Nicole Mitchell filed a lawsuit against the network in 2012, alleging her termination was due to her U.S. Air Force Reserve duties.
November 2013: Weather All the Time Initiative
In November 2013, The Weather Channel launched its "weather all the time" initiative, emphasizing a renewed focus on weather-related content and its commitment to covering major weather events.
December 16, 2013: DirecTV Adds WeatherNation TV
Two weeks before dropping The Weather Channel, DirecTV began carrying WeatherNation TV on December 16, 2013, placing it strategically next to The Weather Channel's channel slot.
2013: The Weather Channel Continues to Name Winter Storms
The Weather Channel continued its practice of naming winter storms into 2013, considering factors like predicted snowfall, precipitation, wind speeds, and the timing of the storm.
January 6, 2014: The Weather Company Discontinues "TWC Max" App
The Weather Channel offered two versions of its mobile app: a free ad-supported version and a paid ad-free version called "TWC Max." On January 6, 2014, "TWC Max" was discontinued, leaving only the ad-supported model.
January 14, 2014: DirecTV Removes The Weather Channel
After failing to reach a new carriage agreement, DirecTV removed The Weather Channel from its lineup on January 14, 2014, making it the first major pay TV provider to drop the channel. DirecTV replaced it with WeatherNation TV.
April 8, 2014: The Weather Channel Returns to DirecTV
On April 8, 2014, DirecTV and The Weather Channel settled their carriage dispute, and The Weather Channel was restored to DirecTV's lineup the following day, with reduced reality programming to address viewer complaints.
April 2014: Dave Schwartz Returns to The Weather Channel
Meteorologist Dave Schwartz rejoined The Weather Channel in April 2014 after being among those laid off in 2009.
May 2, 2014: Local Weather Content Restored on DirecTV
Although The Weather Channel was restored on DirecTV on April 9, 2014, access to local weather content via the red button feature didn't return until May 2, 2014.
2014: Introduction of Red Logo for Severe Weather Coverage
Since 2014, The Weather Channel has used a red version of its logo during hurricane coverage and severe tornado outbreaks, providing a visual cue for viewers about the seriousness of the weather events.
March 10, 2015: Verizon FiOS Drops The Weather Channel
Verizon FiOS made the decision to remove The Weather Channel and WeatherScan from its lineup on March 10, 2015, opting for its competitor, AccuWeather.
July 2015: Weather.com Ranks Among Most Visited Websites
By July 2015, weather.com, The Weather Channel's website, was ranked among the top visited websites globally, according to web analytics providers Alexa (146th) and SimilarWeb (244th). SimilarWeb specifically ranked it as the second most visited weather website, with over 126 million monthly visitors. The website provided a range of customized forecasts, including specialized ones for home and garden and event planning.
August 2015: Comcast Implements IntelliStar 2 on Standard Definition
By August 2015, some providers, such as Comcast, began utilizing IntelliStar 2 for their standard definition channel in certain locations.
August 2015: The Weather Company Explores Potential Sale
In August 2015, the Weather Company's owners considered selling parts or all of the company, hiring financial firms to help explore their options.
September 9, 2015: The Weather Channel Announces Programming Overhaul
On September 9, 2015, The Weather Channel revealed plans for a significant overhaul of its programming schedule throughout 2016, aiming to shift its focus back towards weather forecasting.
October 28, 2015: IBM Acquires The Weather Company's Assets
On October 28, 2015, IBM acquired most of the Weather Company's assets, including weather.com, Weather Underground, mobile apps, and data platforms.
January 2016: IBM Acquires The Weather Channel's Digital Assets
In January 2016, IBM acquired weather.com and most of The Weather Channel's digital assets.
April 1, 2016: Verizon FiOS Drops The Weather Channel
On April 1, 2016, it was unknown if Frontier FiOS customers in clusters formerly served by Verizon were also impacted by the dropping of The Weather Channel, including the recently acquired clusters from California, Texas, and Florida.
July 30, 2016: Dave Schwartz Passes Away
Dave Schwartz, a long-time meteorologist who returned to The Weather Channel after being laid off in 2009, sadly passed away from cancer on July 30, 2016.
August 2016: Sinclair Broadcast Group Expresses Interest in The Weather Channel
In August 2016, Sinclair Broadcast Group showed interest in potentially acquiring The Weather Channel.
2016: The Weather Channel Simulcasts on SiriusXM During Major Storms
Starting in 2016, The Weather Channel began simulcasting on SiriusXM during significant storm events, providing continuous coverage and updates.
2016: The Weather Channel Shifts Programming Focus
Throughout 2016, The Weather Channel implemented changes to its programming, gradually transitioning back to a more forecast-centric lineup.
March 22, 2018: Entertainment Studios Acquires The Weather Channel's TV Assets
Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios purchased the television assets of The Weather Channel from the NBCUniversal/Bain/Blackstone partnership on March 22, 2018, for a reported $300 million. The deal didn't include the non-television assets, which were sold to IBM in 2015.
September 2018: The Weather Channel Reaches 79.128 Million Households
As of September 2018, The Weather Channel was available in approximately 79.128 million U.S. households with a pay television subscription.
April 18, 2019: The Weather Channel Experiences Malware Attack
On April 18, 2019, The Weather Channel had to temporarily halt its live programming due to a "malicious software attack". They resorted to airing pre-recorded shows until the issue was resolved and live programming resumed within a few hours. The identity of the attackers remains unknown.
June 24, 2019: The Weather Channel Returns to Verizon FiOS
After a four-year absence, on June 24, 2019, Verizon FiOS agreed to bring back The Weather Channel to its lineup after Entertainment Studios became the channel's owner.
October 19, 2020: Website and Digital Assets Archived
On October 19, 2020, a snapshot of weather.com and other digital assets from The Weather Channel were archived on the Wayback Machine.
2021: The Weather Channel Returns to Frontier FiOS
In 2021, The Weather Channel returned to Frontier FiOS's customer footprint following the company's partnership with YouTube TV.
March 28, 2022: The Weather Channel Partners with CBS News
The Weather Channel established a content partnership with CBS News on March 28, 2022. As part of this partnership, The Weather Channel delivers weather reports for CBS Mornings, the CBS Evening News, and the CBS News streaming network. They also collaborate on investigative journalism related to weather and climate.
May 2, 2022: The Weather Channel en Español Launches on Local Now
Coinciding with The Weather Channel's 40th anniversary, The Weather Channel en Español was launched on Local Now on May 2, 2022, offering 24/7 coverage. The team includes notable meteorologists like Milmar Ramírez, Henry Golac, Jessica Fernández, Lorena Lim, Albert Martínez, and Abel Hernández.
May 2022: The Weather Channel Launches Subscription-Based App
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, The Weather Channel launched a new direct-to-consumer subscription-based app in May 2022.
December 12, 2022: Weatherscan Shutdown
Weather Group, LLC, discontinued its digital cable and satellite service, Weatherscan, on December 12, 2022. Weatherscan had provided 24-hour automated local forecasts and radar imagery.
2022: The Weather Channel Ranked as Most Trustworthy Media Organization
In 2022, The Weather Channel was recognized as the most trustworthy media organization in the U.S., based on a poll conducted by The Economist and YouGov.
August 2023: IBM Sells The Weather Channel to Francisco Partners
In August 2023, IBM sold its weather unit, including The Weather Channel's subsidiaries and apps, to Francisco Partners. IBM, however, retained the weather data to enhance its AI models for enterprise clients, including NASA.
2023: Shutdown of weloveweather.tv
The website weloveweather.tv, used by The Weather Channel as a television operation, was shut down in 2023.