Mario500 3 Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Do your local stations report on severe weather frequently or for long periods of time? All four of the Mobile-Pensacola TV market's news operations have been reporting on thunderstorms crossing the region since this morning. Just a few days ago, the stations were doing the same thing (WPMI interrupted "NBC Nightly News" for a storm update). The first sign of today's weather coverage came in the form of an area map graphic and a scrolling ticker (white letters) on WKRG, which began its on-going weather coverage at about 10:30 AM until sometime between 1:30 PM and 1:50 PM. Viewers were unable to see the "CBS Sports Spectacular" of motorcycle racing and much of the network's college basketball broadcast. WALA interrupted regular programming (syndicated programming such as "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air") off and on this morning and during FOX's coverage of the Daytona 500 automobile race. WPMI had on-going weather reporting since this morning, but stopped just in time for NBC's "World of Adventure Sports". Notorious ABC affiliate WEAR joined in late compared to the Mobile stations and they continue to interrupt non-network programming such as "Will & Grace", a half-hour of paid programming, and "Know Your Heritage". I believe the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 gave the stations the idea that viewers want more severe weather reporting in an area where rain is plentiful and viewers know how to fend for themselves during the worst weather. Today's weather coverage is what folks some may call "the final straw". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeters 1805 Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 WTMJ has been known to stay on air from 4AM-7PM non stop during snow. And sometimes it's not that much snow, like 7 inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WXmanTim 88 Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Up the road from you Mario500, in Birmingham, Albritton's ABC 33/40 stays on the air during severe weather outbreaks. Though I believe it is limited to tornado warnings only and not severe thunderstorm warnings. They regularly double the competition in ratings (Birmingham is, I believe, a Neilsen overnight metered market) when they are on the air for storm coverage and that carries over to their news programming as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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