NEW YORK — From September 2008 through March 2018, The Weather Channel was tied to a peacock, thanks to its ownership through a consortium between private investment firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital, and Comcast/NBCUniversal. From 2012-2016, one of its biggest star meteorologists was known for his years at ABC.
As of today, The Weather Channel, now owned by media mogul Byron Allen, is aligning itself with a Paramount arm.
A content collaboration agreement has been forged between The Weather Channel and CBS News.
This, the groups say, will bring “enhanced weather and climate reporting” to CBS News, combining “the expertise and technology” of the organizations.
In particular, CBS will benefit from The Weather Channel’s Immersive Mixed Reality (IMR) technology, giving viewers a virtual view into real-time weather conditions.
As TWC and CBS describe, “By deploying HDR, 360° cameras, camera tracking and the ‘Unreal Engine, Zero Density Reality Hub,’ the IMR technology allows viewers to visualize future weather forecasts.”
The reports originate from the Weather Channel’s Atlanta headquarters and will include live reports from TWC’s best-known weather reporters: Stephanie Abrams, Jim Cantore and Mike Bettes. The entire Weather Channel meteorological and newsgathering team will also support CBS’s efforts.
When will viewers see the reports? In a move that posits CBS’s national news programs away from those of ABC and NBC, The Weather Channel reports will be integrated into the CBS MORNINGS, CBS SATURDAY MORNING and struggling CBS EVENING NEWS telecast helmed at present by Norah O’Donnell.
Additionally, long-form production of weather programming is in the works, as the CBS News investigative team and the Weather Channel’s meteorological and newsgathering teams will partner on special investigative climate reports.
“By bringing together CBS News and the Weather Channel’s weather teams and virtual view technology, we will not only be able to forecast the weather but show viewers what it’s really going to look like,” said Neeraj Khemlani, president and co-head of CBS News and Stations. “This is a holistic partnership that brings together the scale of both companies’ reporting teams, technologies and audiences. In addition to the virtual forecasts and live reporting, we will also collaborate on field reporting and pair our investigative teams to expand our environmental investigative efforts. Together we will deliver deeper coverage of one of the most important stories of our time – the impact of the climate on the communities we live in.”
Byron Allen commented, “This year, the Weather Channel celebrates its 40th anniversary, and there’s never been a more important time to provide viewers cutting-edge visual presentations and compelling storytelling about our weather. This new collaboration is designed to offer the CBS News audience the most innovative weather reporting, as well as greater reach for the Weather Channel’s brand. CBS News and the Weather Channel will work closely together to explore and investigate issues related to climate and our environment.”
