The Weather Channel (Australia)
| The Weather Channel | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 1 January 1999 (Austar) December 2002 (Foxtel) |
| Owned by | XYZnetworks |
| Slogan | Live By It! (also used by US version from 2001-2005) |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Sydney |
| Website | weatherchannel.com.au |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Austar | Channel 603 |
| Foxtel | Channel 603 |
| Cable | |
| Austar | Channel 603 |
| Foxtel | Channel 603 |
| Optus TV | Channel 603 |
The Weather Channel is an Australian 24 hour cable and satellite channel which broadcasts weather news and information. The Weather Channel is available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Weather Channel started broadcasting on 1 January 1999 under the name "Weather 21": channel 21 on the Austar channel lineup. Weather 21 was set up by Cox Inall Communications and the meteorological firm The Weather Company and was owned by Austar. The programming was pitched to Austar's largely rural and regional audience. Initial presenters on the channel were Allan Humphries, Lyndal Davies, and meteorologist Mark Hardy, broadcasting live from 6am to 10pm daily, with the overnight programming consisting of an automated loop of forecasts, satellite, and radar, accompanied by music.
In early 2000, no longer located at 21, the name was changed to "The Weather Channel". As the hours of live presentation were extended, presenters Tracey Malmborg, Jaynie Seal, Rebecca LeTourneau and Garry Youngberry were added.
In 2003 Austar sold the channel to XYZ Networks and TWC appeared on the Foxtel network, morphing to better suit the now largely metropolitan audience. Foxtel's Digitals platform extended its distribution with an Open TV interactive weather application, Weather Active.
Major changes in 2004 included logo, graphics, programming lineup and a new version of Weather Active for Foxtel Digital.
In the middle of June 2008, the Weather Channel again had a major change with its graphics as its programming lineup grew.
Weather content on the channel is provided by Metra and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
[edit] Digital services
On Foxtel and Austar digital services, an interactive weather service called "Weather Active" is available. It provides local weather information, such as current conditions, marine and surf reports, dam information, 28 day rain forecast, capital city forecast and 10-day forecasts for the user's postcode. It also provides a state radar, national satellite and national lightning tracker.
[edit] Website
The Weather Channel launched a new website on 24 March 2010 (www.theweatherchannel.com.au). The new website features a 10 day forecast, part day and three-hourly forecasts (all as local as postcode level), breaking weather, weather photos sent in by viewers, information on the water crises, emergency contact numbers, weathercams and program information.
There is also a weekend weather email service. Emails are sent to members on Fridays and give the weekend forecast and information on new programs, special reports or a major current weather feature such as cyclones.
[edit] Programming
[edit] Presenters
[edit] Current
- Sally Ayhan
- Christina Birtles
- Lee Brooks
- Amy Greenbank
- Ken Heatley
- Josh Holt
- Dave Kirwan
- Hannah McEwan
[edit] Former
- Kyly Boldy
- Sally Bowrey
- Jaci Brown
- Bruce Buckley
- Graham Creed
- Lyndal Davies
- Jon Dee
- Jane Drinkwater
- Mark Hardy
- Allan Humphries
- Rose Jacobs
- Ian Leslie
- Rebecca Le Torneau
- Tracey Malmborg
- Gavin Morris
- Reuben Mourad
- Ed Phillips
- Magdalena Roze
- Jaynie Seal
- Angela Tsun
- Garry Youngberry
[edit] Meteorologists
- Tom Saunders
- Richard "Dick" Whitaker
[edit] Former meteorologists
- Mark Hardy
- Tracey Malmborg
- Bruce Buckley
- Don White
- Clare Richards
- Jane Bunn
- Alex Zadnik
|
|||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
