Have NBC’s WeatherPlus channels changed the broadcast weather environment?

Local television weather broadcasts have always faced competition for the public's attention from other local media weather sources, such as radio and newspapers.

The Weather Channel® brought continuous weather coverage to television viewers, but did not offer continuous local weather or local weather anchors. The internet dramatically expanded the public's options in getting weather information, but is generally not available on people's television sets.

A small percentage of television markets have had 24/7 local weather channels available for some time. But now, with NBC's WeatherPlus®, many markets have 24/7 local weather channels, including local weather anchors and a focus on local weather.

This presentation will discuss the implications and impact this may have on local television weather broadcasts, and the alternatives available to television meteorologists who wish to remain the leading source of local weather.