Once the "Weather Channel" carriage dispute back in May was resolved, a press release was issued which referenced a new "localized" TWC to begin launching this summer. Here's a verbatim portion of the release:
DISH Network and The Weather Channel Reach Agreement Includes development of new full-time weather forecasting services ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and ATLANTA, May 24, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ --
DISH Network L.L.C. and The Weather Channel today announced that they have reached a multi-year agreement for continued distribution of The Weather Channel on DISH Network's programming platform. The deal provides for collaboration between both companies in developing state-of-the-art, full-time weather forecasting services designed specifically for satellite customers, including localized weather programming on DISH Network Ch. 213 (in addition to The Weather Channel's main feed on Ch. 214), interactive TV applications, as well as new Internet and mobile services. Deployment of the new services will begin this summer....
"DISH Network and their customers are extremely important to us, and maintaining and expanding our partnership is a high
priority for our company," said Mike Kelly, CEO and President of The Weather Channel. "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..."
I intend to hold Dish's "feet to the fire" on their promise to offer a localized weather channel -- particularly since they canned Paul Douglas' The Weather Cast Channel after less than one week on the air. Also, the release says deployment will begin this summer -- Autumn begins in 2 weeks. It seems DISH thinks they can make empty promises hoping the viewers have short memories. I intend to keep reminding DISH of their pledge to reinstate channel 213 with a localized version of TWC. So before I fire off some emails to DISH, has anyone heard any updates regarding this? Have any deployments reached anyone that have yet to reach me?
Eric
DISH Network and The Weather Channel Reach Agreement Includes development of new full-time weather forecasting services ENGLEWOOD, Colo. and ATLANTA, May 24, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ --
DISH Network L.L.C. and The Weather Channel today announced that they have reached a multi-year agreement for continued distribution of The Weather Channel on DISH Network's programming platform. The deal provides for collaboration between both companies in developing state-of-the-art, full-time weather forecasting services designed specifically for satellite customers, including localized weather programming on DISH Network Ch. 213 (in addition to The Weather Channel's main feed on Ch. 214), interactive TV applications, as well as new Internet and mobile services. Deployment of the new services will begin this summer....
"DISH Network and their customers are extremely important to us, and maintaining and expanding our partnership is a high
priority for our company," said Mike Kelly, CEO and President of The Weather Channel. "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..."
I intend to hold Dish's "feet to the fire" on their promise to offer a localized weather channel -- particularly since they canned Paul Douglas' The Weather Cast Channel after less than one week on the air. Also, the release says deployment will begin this summer -- Autumn begins in 2 weeks. It seems DISH thinks they can make empty promises hoping the viewers have short memories. I intend to keep reminding DISH of their pledge to reinstate channel 213 with a localized version of TWC. So before I fire off some emails to DISH, has anyone heard any updates regarding this? Have any deployments reached anyone that have yet to reach me?
Eric