Local Weather on D???

[ChrisK114]

Has anyone heard if D* is ever gonna get something like the the Weatherscan channel that The Weather Channel does? I know with Sat TV it could be dificult but not impossible. I know they have something on the Active channel, but was wondering if it is a possibility. Thats the only thing my wife misses about Cable. We have had a very active weather season here lately.

 

[rad]

I've not seen anything mentioned about doing this on any of the sites. I know in SEC filings D*'s mentioned that implementing just weather warning messages on their boxes would be very difficult to do.

 

[ChrisK114]

I've not seen anything mentioned about doing this on any of the sites. I know in SEC filings D*'s mentioned that implementing just weather warning messages on their boxes would be very difficult to do.

Well even if they could improve the one on their active channel would be good. It would be nice to see live radar of the area. I am sure they would have to upgrade their program, but Dish does it. I think it needs to be more detailed.

 

[rad]

Agree, it would be nice to have something better. But it looks like D*'s working on other items that they think will help sell their service, like VoD, remote scheduleing and the hopefully soon to come multi room viewing.

 

[charper1]

I would prefer them focusing on actual DBS R&D not these niche items which can already be had via cell, net, OTA or radio and by looking out the window (these 2 lack radar).

 

[ChrisK114]

I would prefer them focusing on actual DBS R&D not these niche items which can already be had via cell, net, OTA or radio and by looking out the window (these 2 lack radar).

I agree, but the facts are that this is important to some people. Also, it seems that the biggest opportunity for D* to grow is inside the towns and cities where cable all so often has a stronghold. Cable is using this to their advantage. The people in rural areas only have two choices, OTA or satellite. The suburbs are where they need to be concentrating and this is important to alot of those. I have talked to people that would not change for this very reason. Granted, it might not be a very vocal group, but D* could use it to their adavntage when selling to new customers. It seems more important to women for some reason. If D* could get the women on their side, it could make a big difference.

 

[raoul5788]

I agree, but the facts are that this is important to some people. Also, it seems that the biggest opportunity for D* to grow is inside the towns and cities where cable all so often has a stronghold. Cable is using this to their advantage. The people in rural areas only have two choices, OTA or satellite. The suburbs are where they need to be concentrating and this is important to alot of those. I have talked to people that would not change for this very reason. Granted, it might not be a very vocal group, but D* could use it to their adavntage when selling to new customers. It seems more important to women for some reason. If D* could get the women on their side, it could make a big difference.

Isn't there radar available in most areas on ota sub channels?

 

[charper1]

Yes, and almost every place I have ever been, including towns with less that 1000 people in the middle of nowhere can use a cell phone for radar as THEY need it AND their regular non-sub-chnl TV will have constant weather and radar coverage during times of need. The vast majority of users would appreciate these additions to DBS without a doubt; as we all want EVERYTHING, but not as a must-have top priority nor at the expense of other DBS additional functions or national chnls IMHO.

 

[dcowboy7]

the best is to just go to weather.com the weather channels website.

 

[charper1]

That was mentioned before but they claimed no ISP available, so that was conceded; LOL!

 

[ChrisK114]

Isn't there radar available in most areas on ota sub channels?

not in my town.

 

[jcrandall]

the best is to just go to weather.com the weather channels website.

Many many markets now have at least one OTA station with a sub-channel weather info/radar. As DirecTV gets more in-tune with local receive facilities going digital and HD, they could consider adding a weather station in many DMAs, and probably do it at very little to no cost with the stations, and only cost a MPEG4 SD spotbeam bandwith feed, which should be very little.

 

[charper1]

not in my town.

OK, so how about your regular TV chnls; do they not switch to constant weather coverage in times of need? Other than times of needs; what's wrong with the 3-day, 5-day, or 7-day forecasts?

 

[Jimbo]

We use to have an actual live doppler radar on one of our sub channels, I used it all the time, it was very useful, then one day it went away, the explanation was they were required to remove it for room for children's programming .... That was about a year and a half ago and still there is NOTHING on that previously useful channel.

We have 2 other sub channels that cover weather, but none of it is up to date with a live doppler.

I agree, I would love to have the old doppler back

Jimbo

 

[ScottChez]

Since all there HD DVRs can be connected to the internet now, how about a channel that pulls local weather and radar off the internet from the weather channel.com or something.

It would be so easy to do.

 

[commodore_dude]

There is definitely a way to at least display localized warning messages. If you can put in your zip code on that active weather channel bit and get local weather, there's no reason they couldn't take that and send down all active weather alerts and have your boxes pick up ones relevant to your zip and at least pop up a message box. Beyond that, and ESPECIALLY with internet connected boxes, I see no reason they couldn't just insert a Weatherstar-like screen during the local on the 8's instead of the national weather and populate that using the same zip. Lots of options that don't require spotbeaming every Weatherstar location. All of that said, my weather radio and computer are both within 10 feet of my HDTV, it would just be kind of slick if they'd finally catch up to cable on this after 10+ years...

 

[slls]

I go to weather underground on the web, weather radar on demand, no waiting. Just set it up for your local area, I like it better than the weather channel.

 

[ChrisK114]

There is definitely a way to at least display localized warning messages. If you can put in your zip code on that active weather channel bit and get local weather, there's no reason they couldn't take that and send down all active weather alerts and have your boxes pick up ones relevant to your zip and at least pop up a message box. Beyond that, and ESPECIALLY with internet connected boxes, I see no reason they couldn't just insert a Weatherstar-like screen during the local on the 8's instead of the national weather and populate that using the same zip. Lots of options that don't require spotbeaming every Weatherstar location. All of that said, my weather radio and computer are both within 10 feet of my HDTV, it would just be kind of slick if they'd finally catch up to cable on this after 10+ years...

My point exactly! Dish has found a way to do radar on their local weather. Noone thought they could ever do local channels through satellite, but they found a way. I just think this is the last hurdle D* need to jump over before they can be competitive with cable in the city. It might sound petty, but the people who have had cable and have had their local weather, would have a hard time adjusting to not having it. That is the one thing my wife hates about D*.

 

[ScottChez]

Once the weather channel goes HD June 2nd why cant they use the Side bars for Warnings and local radar national wide.

They can scroll through the warnings like breaking news on the side in HD.

With the HD screen they have more screen space to do this. Just look at CNBC HD or FOX Biz in HD


++++++OR+++++

How about DirecTV add a national Weather channel weather scan channel like they have on cable. It would cycle through all the regional radars and warning maps.

Its a cheap solution, just add the channel and set it for national.

 

[dcowboy7]

or u could move to san diego where its 74 and sunny everyday.