The Weather Channel had 'turned into a show instead of a science' after its purchase by NBC. No surprise to some that DirecTV dropped it

.
1/13/14, "The Weather Channel goes dark on DirecTV," Anthony Watts, WUWT:

"The Weather Channel Drops Off DirecTV…," insidecablenews.wordpress.com

"Here is The Weather Channel’s statement on disappearing from DirecTV…

STATEMENT FROM THE WEATHER COMPANY CHAIRMAN AND CEO DAVID KENNY

-----------------------------------------------

The 2008 announcement that The Weather Channel was sold to NBC was the last straw for some. They already weren't happy with changes at TWC:

 9/12/2008, "NBC Now Owns The Weather Channel," NY Times, Media Decoder blog

"The Virginian-Pilot reports: “Landmark Communications Inc. announced today that it has closed on the sale of The Weather Channel Cos. to NBC Universal and two private equity firms, The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital.”

==============================

13 comments about The Weather Channel at NY Times site after its purchase by NBC, comments from July 2009-Jan. 2010: "A show instead of a science:"

======================== 

1. "July 8, 2009 10:24 pm Link

I was disappointed to hear the Weather Channel is now owned by NBC. I wondered how long it would be until TWC turned into a show instead of a science, sad to see all this week IT”S BEGUN. Lots of adds everywhere of Al R., the importance being Al, not the weather. I quit watching NBC in the morning because weather was a big joke to them. Well now I guess the jokes on me. I can find weather other places, it’s just disappointing to see another good entity bought by a big conglomerate and then turned into something less than what it was. What’s next, game show hosts reporting the evening news?

1 Disappointed Viewer

— D Horst"

=========================== 

2. "July 30, 2009 8:58 am Link

 

I’m not surprised to see NBC buy The Weather Channel. It had already gotten to where it should have been called “The Commercial Channel”.

And… when you get right down to it, who really wants to see Storm Stories when you are experiencing bad weather in your area? I’m sure we have only begun to see the end of what was once a very good thing. I won’t be watching anything but Local on the 8′s.
Another Disappointed Ex-Viewer

— A Frazier"

===========================

3. "August 17, 2009 8:37 am Link

 

we dont need a comic to give the weather plus his snide remarks about women i too will get my weather else where.

— jimk gortman"

========================= 

4. "August 18, 2009 1:15 pm Link

 

You have got to be kidding me!! The weather channel just lost a viewer. This would be a good time to start another show about the weather.

— Randall Broyles"

========================= 

5. "August 20, 2009 8:05 am Link

 

Now that the weather channel is owned by NBC you have lost me as a viewer. The Good Morning with Al is a joke and stinks to high heaven.

— J dwight Carr"

====================== 

6. "August 24, 2009 12:57 am Link

 

"The Weather Channel used to play a vital role by informing its viewers of potentially dangerous weather events that would impact their lives. It has now become a variety show with an occasional glimpse of the weather. Waking up with Al is an utter disgrace! Stephanie Abrams had developed a reputation as a gutsy, daring and very professional meteorologist by covering hurricanes and other major weather events. She has now become a pathetic sidekick to Al Roker. My viewership of the Weather Channel will surely decrease. P.S. Bring back Heather Tesch in the morning. She was much better to look at.

— john"

=====================

7. "August 25, 2009 7:08 pm Link

 

I too am disappointed with the weather channel. I don’t turn to WC for entertainment or news. The downhill slide started years ago. Mr. Roker is just the latest part of a long collapse. I watch Local 8s and that’s it. I don’t even go to the WC website anymore.

— tim"

===================== 

8. "September 11, 2009 11:29 am Link

 

I knew when you started reciting Al Gore’s propaganda,

added Al Roker on your channel, and changed the format from WEATHER to ENTERTAINMENT show, that you had been acquired by NBC. I just went online today to verify that fact. You have just lost me and my husband as viewers.

— fuquay"

================== 

9. "September 17, 2009 11:20 am Link

 

Get rid of Al and the news and the offbeat music and the attempts at glamour.
We tune in for the weather.
TWC was just fine before NBC; I was hooked.
Now I threw the hook.
I’ll check back in a few months to see if you’ve gone back to the old format.
If not – Goodbye !

— Jerry Book"

======================

10. "October 3, 2009 8:46 am Link

 

When I began seeing short glimpses of Obama smiling and waving in the middle of weather pictures , I was apppalled and outraged. Talk about subliminal messages. WOW! Obama must be omnipotent , for now he is controlling our weather. .
.
Something to ponder: i wonder if seeing Obama’s short snipets injected into weather shots make chills run up their legs?

NBC : you’re so obtuse.(means stupid).. .

— Jane Proctor"

===================== 

11. "October 15, 2009 5:52 pm Link

 

Add my name to the long list of EX-Weather Channel viewers. If I want to see a comical variety show, I’ll watch Fox News. Get rid of Al Roker! Just the weather, please!

— Daryl Johnson"

====================== 

12. "December 30, 2009 10:46 am Link

 

I have a son who is a US Marine fighting in Afghanistan. Today I saw on the weather channel “NEWS” (not weather) about the war in Afghanistan will be nearly impossible to win

….. Thanks NBC for your patriotism… My New Years resolution starts today with NOT watching the weather channel anymore….. And as far as Al goes…. Like Toby Keith sang….. We’ll put a boot in your a_ _… Its the American way…

— Claude C,"

 

===================

13. "January 7, 2010 12:40 am Link

 

The weather Channel, You should call the news-joke channel. You lost sight of what the channel was created for which is weather, not news on the war or anything that is not weather. Get it together and show more weather and less non needed shows. I see more shows on now then actual current weather. And enough on the unproved global warming.

— Jamie H"

 ======================