Weather Whys; Weather Channel

This is Weatherwise. The proliferation of cable television has made it feasible to provide a wide range of special interest programming. Some channels now allow people to shop by phone. Some have programming geared to a particular segment of the population, such as women or children, and some provide continuous coverage of sports or business issues. On May 2, 1982, a cable network went on the air that sought to provide timely weather information to the public 24 hours a day. Since then, the Weather Channel has become a familiar offering, as 25 million viewers tune in each week to watch detailed discussions of current and future weather. Special features and forecasts meet the specific interests and needs of certain viewers. For example, skiers, sports fans, and those planning trips. There are also reports on how the weather may affect people's health and comfort. State-of-the-art computer graphics create easily understandable maps and charts of all kinds. And like Weatherwise, the Weather Channel often tries to give explanations that inform as

well as entertain. About 12 times an hour, the viewer can see local forecasts from the National Weather Service. When dangerous weather conditions threaten an area, affected viewers will have their television screens turn a solid color, and the text of a special weather statement watch or warning from the weather service scrolls up the screen. In order to get viewers attention, warnings are accompanied by a sharp beeping sound, which helps to ensure they'll be seen. That complete package of local and national weather information and feature material appears to be doing well with viewers and continues to catch on around the country. At Weatherwise, our writer is Christine Harbour. Our editor is Brian Lockey, and our executive producer is Karen Hope. Weatherwise is made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation and is a service of the University of Oklahoma. For Weatherwise, I'm Drew Barlow.