The Weather Channel Cable Network launched on May 2nd 1982, and is America's pre-eminent all-weather news network, providing accurate and relevant weather programming for viewers everywhere.

The Weather Channel uses state-of-the-art technology for the presentation and dissemination of weather information, including cutting-edge, patented equipment for creating weather graphics and new products. 

The programs are put together and broadcast from the Global Forecast Center generating over 3,200 individual forecasts simultaneously for the core network plus thousands more for Weatherscan, weather.com, ITV and mobile weather products.

The network commands a staff of more than 110 meteorologists, including experts of national renown who speak at conferences such as the National Hurricane Conference and who play active roles in professional organizations such as the American Meteorological Society.

The Weather Channel has national press recognition in publications such as Time magazine, TV Guide, Washington Post, Chicago Sun Times, The Wall Street Journal.

Examples include:

• “Viewers surveyed said The Weather Channel provided useful information, information they trusted and that time spent there was well spent. ‘Because they go there for a reason, advertising recall improves,’ said (MediaVest EVP) Jim Kite.” -- TV Week
• “Industry executives and analysts generally credit The Weather Channel for having established itself as the brand in national weather news, on cable and the Web alike…” --The New York Times
• The Weather Channel, launched in 1982, remains the weather industry giant.” -- USA Today

The Weather Channel is distributed in a variety of ways, including;

• AFFILIATES - in more than 100 million homes (through cable TV and satellite)
• SATELLITE - SES Americom AMC-10 (digital feed), SES Americom AMC-11 (analog feed)

The Weather Channel Companies are owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital.

Weather Channel HD

The Weather Channel HD is a 24-hour, all-weather cable network presented in High Definition and available to cable, satellite and IPTV distributors for customers who subscribe to their HD services.

When The Weather Channel HD launched in October of 2007, three long-form programming series shot in native HD and enhancements to the graphics and maps for local forecasts were offered as part of the first phase of the network’s HD programming. The programs included: Epic Conditions, Weather Ventures, and 100 Biggest Weather Moments.  Thereafter, all new long-form series launched on the network were in HD format including When Weather Changed History in January of 2008 and the return of the popular Storm Stories series in HD in 2009.

In addition, almost all of the live studio programming on the  24/7 all-weather network is simultcast in SD and HD.  A new state-of-the-art HD facility was completed in spring of 2008, opening the way for virtually all studio program to originate in native HD.

Network Milestones

1981-82 – Despite naysayers, Frank Batten, Sr., gives the go-ahead for The Weather Channel® which launches May 2, 1982 amid much fanfare.

1983 (9.4 million households) – Some are ready to pull the plug. But the company makes some hard decisions to stay on the air; dramatic progress is made a year later with a 44 percent increase in subscribers.

1986 (25 million households) – The Weather Channel upgrades talent, adopts the anchor concept and adds more video footage.

1987 (27.2 million households) – The Weather Channel produces its first one-hour special.

1988 (37 million households) – The Weather Channel commits to breaking news, covering the drought and Hurricane Gilbert.

1991 (50.3 million households) – The Weather Channel wins Golden CableACE from the National Academy of Cable Programming for coverage of Hurricane Hugo.

1995 – weather.com launches; continuous growth in broadband activities with launch of first wireless weather content three years later.

1999 (73 million households) – During coverage of the first storm of 1999, TWC achieves its largest single day audience delivery ever of one million households.

2001 (80 million households) – The Weather Channel continues new programming evolution with StormWeek series which sets ratings record during non-severe weather.

2002 (85 million households) – The Weather Channel is honored with a Beacon Award in the media category for its Rays Awareness sun safety campaign.

2003 (more than 85 million households) – Launch of first-ever primetime series, Storm Stories.

2005 (more than 89 million households) – TWC sets new record with total day rating of 2.2 during Hurricane Katrina coverage.

2006 (nearly 90 million households) – Launch of new series, It Could Happen Tomorrow which sustained ratings increases averaging 53 percent for its time period compared to the year before; other new program launches include nightly series Abrams & Bettes – Beyond the Forecast and TV’s only weekly climate change program, Forecast Earth with Dr. Heidi Cullen

2007 (more than 96 million households) – Launch of The Weather Channel HD and construction of new 12,500-sq.-ft. facility for presentation of all studio programming in HD in 2008.

2008 (more than 98 million households) – The new TWC HD Studio opens.  In September, The Weather Channel Companies is purchased by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital.

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