As a teenager, The Weather Channel was one of my favorite stations on cable (once we finally got cable). Back in the day it was a great way for a geek with a meteorological interest to get lost in all the pretty maps and semi-scientific discussion.
This was, of course, before the network transitioned to its current focus of repackaging just one weather model’s output, somewhat more inane presenters, and way too many fluff programs.
So it was with some wistfulness that I ran across this AJC article:
Atlanta’s Weather Channel has always been the smart, geeky guy in the corner, never making a scene unless a hurricane or deadly snowstorm hit.
But now that owner Landmark Communications has put the network — and the entire company — up for sale, big media conglomerates are likely to treat it like a stud in an episode of “The Bachelor.”
“It’s one of the largest independent, privately owned cable networks out there,” said Brad Adgate, senior vice president and director of research for media planning and buying agency Horizon Media. “That makes it a very desirable asset for a big media company.”
Two news reports floated a hefty $5 billion price tag for the Weather Channel and its popular Web site, weather.com.
I’ll wish that a new buyer will return TWC some of its former glory. However, I think a deterioration into further fluff is more likely….if they even retain the broadcast operations.
At least all sorts of good WX stuff is now easily accessible online (much to AccuWeather’s chagrin).
