NEW YORK—Amagi has announced that AccuWeather has successfully completed a major upgrade of its broadcast ecosystem. As part of the upgrade, AccuWeather moved from traditional broadcast infrastructure to a cloud-based, internet-driven system that manages both linear TV and streaming in one place. This eliminates separate workflows, making distribution more efficient, flexible, and easier to scale across platforms.

“At AccuWeather, delivering timely continuous weather content, forecasts and severe weather coverage requires a modern, scalable distribution infrastructure, which is why we partnered with Amagi,” said Helen Swenson, chief content officer at AccuWeather. “By consolidating our linear and OTT distribution on Amagi’s platform, we are simplifying operations and improving efficiency enabling our team to focus on high-quality content and delivering forecasts with proven Superior Accuracy™ our audiences trust.”

The transformation, anchored at Amagi’s state-of-the-art Master Control Room (MCR) in Princeton, N.J., brings both the technology stack and managed operations under a single provider. This enables AccuWeather to achieve a high level of agility and rapid customization of its channel.

“Managed Services is at the heart of this engagement,” said Srinivasan KA, co-founder and president – global business, Amagi. “Our role is not just to provide cloud playout technology, but to actively operate, monitor, and optimize mission-critical broadcast environments with a unified approach. As the entire solution is based on Amagi’s tech stack and managed services, customizations are seamless and faster. With our Princeton MCR overseeing Linear and FAST channels, AccuWeather gains both cloud-native agility and broadcast-grade operational assurance—a combination that is critical, but rare in the market.”

The expanded engagement builds on a successful initiative launched in 2021, when AccuWeather introduced its FAST channels. Amagi described the advantages of its Managed Services model for AccuWeather:

• Enhanced Distribution Efficiency: Transition to a fully IP-based distribution model to improve reliability and reduced costs.
• Optimized Regionalization at Scale: Advanced sub-feed capabilities enable efficient management of multiple regional feeds with customized graphics.
• Real-Time Agility for Live Events: Faster workflows allowing for instant delivery of breaking news and critical weather updates across all platforms.
• Accelerated Innovation Cycles: A unified technology approach enables quicker deployment of new features and workflow enhancements.

NEW YORK—AccuWeather has announced a multi-year deal with MS Now to provide weather forecasts, content, data, and access to its expert meteorologists to the network's audiences.

Comcast is spinning off its cable networks and other assets from NBCUniversal into Versant, a new company, at the end of 2025 or early in 2026. As part of that, MSNBC is separating from NBC News and rebranding as MS NOW in mid-November.

The new deal makes AccuWeather the preferred weather source for Versant, which will own MS NOW and business-news channel CNBC when the spinoff is complete.

"At such a groundbreaking moment for soon-to-be MS Now, we are proud to continue to expand our reporting capabilities and offerings alongside AccuWeather,” said MS Now senior vice president of newsgathering Scott Matthews. “Our network's mission—embodied through our new name MS Now, My Source for News, Opinion and the World—is to bring our viewers the most-trusted news that they care about. We know, at a moment of unprecedented weather events, that AccuWeather will bring top-quality data and reporting to our audiences.”

“AccuWeather is proud to be the Preferred Weather Provider for Versant, which further enhances AccuWeather’s core mission to save lives, protect property, and help people and businesses make the best weather-impacted decisions,” AccuWeather CEO Steven R. Smith said. “AccuWeather's forecasts and warnings with proven Superior Accuracy from its expert meteorologists will now reach millions more people with this multi-year deal on many new platforms."

MS NOW also said has hired David Parkinson as senior weather and elections data analyst and Moses Small as climate reporter to join the network's growing roster of journalists. Emmy award-winning Parkinson joins MS NOW from CBS News, while Small joins from KGTV San Diego. Parkinson and Small will be working alongside AccuWeather's expert meteorologists to deliver the AccuWeather forecasts on Versant networks.

AccuWeather will support MS NOW, as well as CNBC, including daily on-air segments on “Morning Joe” and “Squawk Box.” The daily spots will highlight AccuWeather's forecasting expertise, while deepening viewer engagement with the most detailed forecasts and powerful weather insights which connect to business, lifestyle and cultural topics.

AccuWeather will also provide the networks with an integrated suite of services, including live and recorded meteorologist appearances, data-driven weather graphics, tailored weather briefings, and editorial content. Versant will have access to AccuWeather's Enterprise API, editorial feed and video content library, enhancing its ability to incorporate weather context and analysis across its news and entertainment programming, the companies reported.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—AccuWeather has announced a deal with Perplexity, a AI-powered search and answer engine, that will bring AccuWeather's weather data and severe weather alerts directly to millions of Perplexity users.

As part of the agreement, AccuWeather's highly localized (hyperlocal) forecasts, real-time data, and exclusive features, including MinuteCast and RealFeel Temperature, will power Perplexity's dedicated weather answer page, generative AI responses to weather-related user queries on Perplexity's platform, and other Perplexity experiences that will be launched in the future.

"We feel strongly that bringing our potentially lifesaving weather forecasts and information directly to Perplexity's users is paramount to AccuWeather's mission of saving lives and protecting property," said Steven R. Smith, CEO at AccuWeather. "By partnering with Perplexity's groundbreaking technology, we're making it even easier for people to access AccuWeather's known and trusted critical weather forecasts, seamlessly integrated into the AI-powered experiences they rely on daily."

Perplexity said that it chose AccuWeather as its exclusive weather data partner because of AccuWeather's proven accuracy and its robust database of weather information, which features over 300 parameters and more than 70 years of historical data.

In addition to comprehensive daily and hourly forecasts, the partnership will provide Perplexity users with direct access to AccuWeather's severe weather alerts. Initially, users can access these alerts on demand through the Perplexity app and website.

"Perplexity is committed to delivering accurate answers for any question, any time," said Aravind Srinivas, CEO at Perplexity. "Weather affects many kinds of decision-making, so it's natural to integrate AccuWeather's trusted data into our answers."

Perplexity is available in the app store and online at https://www.perplexity.com.

AccuWeather said AccuWeather Now, its free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel, has launched on WatchFree+, Vizio’s free streaming platform.

For an even more personalized experience, AccuWeather has also launched a custom app on the Vizio platform. The app delivers ZIP code-specific local forecast information and national weather news video, providing expert insights and severe weather alerts to help keep people safer and better informed, the company said.

In addition to Vizio, AccuWeather Now is also carried on Roku, Xumo, LG and other platforms.

“We are thrilled to be working with Vizio to bring the most recognized and most accurate forecasts and warnings as well as comprehensive and compelling weather content to their community,” AccuWeather CEO Steven R. Smith said. “At AccuWeather, we are committed to providing unparalleled weather insights and forecasts that help people, communities and companies stay safer and make the best weather-impacted decisions. We are delighted to strengthen that commitment to the Vizio universe.”

NEW ORLEANS—AccuWeather has acquired TOA Systems, a provider of lightning-detection hardware and one of the few global lightning networks in existence, the company said.

The deal was announced at the American Meteorological Society’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Terms were not disclosed.

As a result of the deal, AccuWeather has launched the new AccuWeather Lightning Network, which will enhance its global lightning detection capabilities by combining AccuWeather's proven accuracy in weather forecasting with TOA’s state-of-the-art hardware network to keep people safer and businesses, property and assets better protected, State College, Pennsylvania-based AccuWeather said.

The deal was closed in December and is AccuWeather’s 16th acquisition since its founding 63 years ago.

The two companies said the integration of TOA’s advanced lightning detection systems with AccuWeather’s proprietary forecasting technology and machine learning expertise will create a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind global lightning detection network that will help businesses, governments and the public, helping them better manage risks and better understand the impact of lightning.

“We are genuinely thrilled about this meaningful and powerful opportunity to not only advance our lightning forecast expertise, but also to provide a critical, life-saving dataset, and cutting-edge lightning sensing technology to AccuWeather clients and users worldwide," AccuWeather CEO and board member Steven R. Smith said. “The integration of AccuWeather’s expertise in machine learning and weather forecasting with TOA’s advanced hardware will dramatically enhance decision-making processes for industries and individuals at risk from lightning strikes.”

Lightning is a significant weather hazard in the U.S., striking the ground more than 200 million times (over 2 billion times globally) last year. On average, lightning causes 20 to 30 fatalities and over 200 injuries annually in the U.S. Globally, the toll is even larger, with some estimates of more than 10,000 lives lost each year due to lightning.

The acquisition will enable AccuWeather to offer real-time lightning detection services that further enhance safety and preparedness, the company said.

AccuWeather also noted that a typical lightning bolt carries around 300 million volts and 30,000 amps of electricity, making it extremely powerful compared to household current, which is around 120 volts and 15 amps; essentially, an average lightning bolt packs a punch of about 1 billion joules of energy. In addition, lightning strikes have a substantial economic impact, causing an estimated $1 billion in total economic loss each year in the U.S. due to property damage, forest fire spread, and infrastructure disruptions.

Lightning-related fires, electrical surges, and damage to infrastructure, such as power lines and buildings, contribute significantly to these costs. The agricultural sector bears a considerable share of the financial burden, with lightning-induced wildfires and damage to crops and livestock leading to losses that extend beyond the immediate destruction.

Additionally, power outages resulting from lightning strikes disrupt businesses, leading to economic losses in productivity. The cost to insurance companies also rises, driving up premiums for affected homeowners and businesses (Insurance Information Institute, 2020).

The new global lightning detection network will be integrated into AccuWeather’s suite of digital platforms, including AccuWeather.com and mobile apps, making it easily accessible to users. The AccuWeather Lightning Network will also provide real-time lightning alerts, detailed risk analysis, and safety recommendations tailored to specific locations designed for enterprise and business clients. AccuWeather Lightning Network data will also be available via AccuWeather's APIs and Data Marketplaces.

More information is available at AccuWeather.com.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—AccuWeather said Spanish-language broadcaster Entravision Communications has purchased six of its StoryTeller+ Display Systems to enhance its stations’ newscasts.

The StoryTeller+, an all-in-one interactive touchscreen solution, will help Entravision create more interactive content for its viewers, making news broadcasts more engaging, easier to follow and faster to produce and deliver on-air, AccuWeather said. The platform puts everything in one place, allowing producers to easily build and update graphics, videos and other content without juggling multiple tools, the company said.

It will also allow Entravision to simplify how it organizes news content, AccuWeather said.

"We are thrilled to bring more interactivity and motion to our news presentations with the StoryTeller+ Display System,” Entravision Vice President of News Bertha Gonzalez said in a statement. “With it, we can create more dynamic and engaging news stories and save time so we can more efficiently and easily focus on delivering the highest-quality news to our viewers who count on us every day to keep them informed and up to date."

StoryTeller+ also includes granular mapping capabilities that allow broadcasters to zoom in on specific neighborhoods in greater detail than ever before, AccuWeather said. It allows news producers to highlight specific streets, landmarks and local details, delivering a clear and localized understanding of what’s happening around the corner or around the world to viewers, according to the company.

Entravision will use StoryTeller+ during its upcoming election coverage and in future elections, according to AccuWeather. The system will help the broadcaster deliver real-time results in an easy-to-understand format, broken down by county, state or district, the company said.

The system will also let Entravision stations easily access and share news content across the entire group, AccuWeather said, ensuring consistent news delivery and saving time.

“AccuWeather StoryTeller+ Display Systems combine all the most important features to a news team in one place so they are better equipped to quickly present the news with interactive, leading-edge technology that attracts and engages viewers,” AccuWeather GM of Local Media Services Ryan Ayres said. “With StoryTeller+, Entravision can now deliver a more dynamic and engaging news experience that is easy for viewers to follow and understand and keeps them from even thinking about changing the channel.”

For more on AccuWeather’s StoryTeller+ Display System, click here.

DENVER—AccuWeather has selected Comcast Technology Solutions’ (CTS’) Managed Channel Origination (MCO) to create, manage and distribute linear TV, on-demand video and over-the-top (OTT) channels to North American audiences. 

CTS’ Managed Channel Origination provides a fully managed 24x7 service. Its aim is to improve operational efficiency, reduce capital expenses and future-proof the ability of users to monetize viewing experiences at scale, the company said.

It offers media companies and broadcasters a platform for a unified video workflow from acquisition to delivery, it said.

The AccuWeather Network and AccuWeather NOW, with AccuWeather's Superior Accuracy forecasts, provide viewers the latest in breaking weather and videos and delivers stories illuminating the potential impact of forecasted weather on sports, health, travel and other everyday activities. It offers social weather content from popular platforms and long-form storytelling of major weather events and environmental wonders around the world.

“AccuWeather is synonymous with providing timely, accurate, and enlightening weather information that impacts the lives of millions of viewers,” said CTS senior vice president and general manager of Streaming, Broadcast & Advertising Bart Spriester. “We’re very proud that they have entrusted our Managed Channel Origination service to economically streamline their ability to reach and monetize audiences at scale. Our commitment with MCO is to help companies reduce capital costs and improve operational efficiency through a unique combination of capabilities that only Comcast Technology Solutions can bring to bear.”

Comcast Technology Solutions has provided Managed Channel Origination for hundreds of channels from its U.S facilities to serve North American audiences. Last year, the company extended its MCO capabilities to EMEA by leveraging Sky’s master control video and metadata platforms coupled with the CTS portfolio of solutions, it said.

Managed Channel Origination provides media companies a unified workflow with 24x7 service level agreements (SLAs). It enables organizations to acquire, prepare, create, package and deliver linear TV and OTT channels, it said.

More information is available on the CTS website. 

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—AccuWeather has announced it has acquired Paris-based environmental technology company Plume Labs and that the company has been integrated into its operations. 

Plume Labs is best known for its air quality maps and data, its AI/ML air pollution forecasts and its Flow device, a personal air pollution sensor.

Plume Labs will continue to operate within the AccuWeather group as its center for climate and environmental data and will work on scaling up its ambitions to save lives by bringing its air quality forecasts to the 1.5 billion people AccuWeather reaches around the world.

As a result of the deal Plume Labs will also expand its focus beyond air quality by applying Plume Labs' AI technology to a broader range of environmental risks, from climate to wildfires, AccuWeather said. 

The deal will also accelerate AccuWeather's investments in AI for weather predictions, a critical area of research to make forecasts ever more accurate for a changing climate, the companies said. 

AccuWeather and Plume Labs began working together in January 2020 by integrating Plume's air pollution data into AccuWeather forecasts to make air pollution information and insights for AccuWeather's growing digital audience. 

At the time, AccuWeather announced it held a part ownership stake in Plume Labs.

"The integration of Plume Labs' data and insights into AccuWeather's digital properties marked an important moment for the AccuWeather user base and community, introducing an enhanced layer of relevant everyday insights as another data point to help people make the best health and wellness decisions possible, alongside the superior accuracy of AccuWeather forecasts," said Steven R. Smith, AccuWeather president. "Plume Labs has been a valued partner over the last several years, and we are thrilled to merge our respective core competencies in what we know will be a major step forward for innovation within our industry resulting in more healthful choices for people."

"Air quality plays an intrinsic role in AccuWeather's mission of saving lives and helping people prosper, and this acquisition will help us provide users and customers with an even more personalized experience as well as a 360-degree understanding of the impact of weather on their wellness,” Smith added. “Our exclusive alliance delivered on the promise to help put our users in greater control of their health, and we are committed to that goal even more firmly with this new strategic direction.”

“Seven years ago, David Lissmyr and I launched Plume Labs to make air quality information accessible to everyone," said Romain Lacombe, founder and CEO of Plume Labs. "Since then, our work has helped galvanize the fight for clean air by making the health impact of climate change personal. Joining forces with AccuWeather now is an extraordinary opportunity to amplify our impact at planetary scale and help 1.5 billion people avoid air pollution around the world."

STATE COLLEGE, Penn.—AccuWeather has announced that it has made a wide range of weather data and insights available for blockchain applications via Chainlink. This marks the first time a major weather brand has arranged to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for weather services, AccuWeather said. 

AccuWeather's official Chainlink oracle node delivers critical weather data to blockchain applications to create new products and markets, such as weather predictions, hedging markets, and dynamic NFT art and games based on current weather conditions in localized regions, the company announced.

The AccuWeather node on Chainlink broadcasts data across leading blockchains and cryptographically signs it, allowing users to know definitively that it originated from AccuWeather. Utilizing Chainlink as a universal gateway to blockchains, AccuWeather is extending the reach of its premier weather data into emerging markets, as well as support for the next generation of weather-related applications, the company said. 

"Launching our official Chainlink node begins a new era of AccuWeather supporting blockchain-based markets, opening up increasingly sophisticated and globally accessible applications, spanning weather-related insurance and more," said Kurt Fulepp, AccuWeather global chief product officer. "We look forward to seeing how hybrid smart contracts using AccuWeather data will create value for everyone from farmers to businesses, and organizations around the world."

Will Janensch, director, data providers at Chainlink Labs added that when “combined with smart contracts, AccuWeather's expansive collection of datasets can be used to power parametric insurance models across numerous global industries and securely optimize weather-dependent supply chains. Chainlink provides the time-tested oracle infrastructure that AccuWeather needs to enter blockchain-based markets and provide its premium weather data on-chain to accelerate smart contract innovation." 

Chainlink is a decentralized blockchain oracle network. Chainlink oracle networks provide smart contracts that reliably connect to any external API and leverage secure off-chain computations for enabling feature-rich applications. 

Chainlink currently secures tens of billions of dollars across DeFi, insurance, gaming, and other major industries, and offers global enterprises and leading data providers a universal gateway to all blockchains, the companies said. 

Developers interested in accessing AccuWeather data on blockchains can find more information here.  

STATE COLLEGE, Penn.—The AccuWeather Network has announced that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Nielsen for cable TV measurement to help deepen AccuWeather’s ability to better understand its audiences and work with agencies and advertisers who rely on Nielsen as a currency.

“With the recent expansion of our national footprint and linear audience, using Nielsen became more advantageous, both as a programming insights generator and as a transactional option,” said Sarah Katt, general manager of AccuWeather Network. “We know AccuWeather has a growing set of high value consumer segments, and this data will allow us to learn more about them and share that info with brands trying to connect with them.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with AccuWeather and are excited to support their continued success through our industry-leading TV Audience Measurement service,” said Amilcar Perez, executive vice president, national media clients, Nielsen. “Now more than ever, it’s important for our clients to understand and evaluate how consumers are engaging with their unique programming. We’re confident that our Nielsen data will help AccuWeather not just demonstrate its value to marketers, but will also help them make more informed decisions about all aspects of their programming to help them achieve continued growth."

The AccuWeather Network, which is now available in more than 34 million households via Spectrum TV, DirecTV, AT&T TV NOW, Verizon Fios, and Frontier cable as well as Philo and fuboTV, is a nationally available weather news channel that delivers the latest local and national breaking weather news coverage and forecasts.

NEW YORK—Amagi, a provider of cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV, has announced that AccuWeather used a variety of technologies from Amagi to launch its 24/7 linear channel, AccuWeather Now, and create a differentiated offering of the channel for distribution to The Roku Channel in the United States.

The live linear channel leverages Amagi Cloudport cloud playout service with advanced graphics capabilities and powerful HTML5 graphics rendering. In addition, Amagi supports AccuWeather with 24/7 live playout and monitoring; ad masking in accordance with The Roku Channel's requirements; managing delivery, EPG, and playlist, and server-side ad insertion, Amagi said. 

"For AccuWeather Now, it was important that we created a unique brand and graphics presentation," said Sarah Katt, general manager, AccuWeather Network. "We also needed to adapt our content to meet the requirements of The Roku Channel and other FAST platforms. Amagi not only delivered flawlessly on both counts but did so on a very tight timeline. As more and more FAST platforms jump to get onboard with AccuWeather, we are now well positioned to deliver the channel to other FAST platforms in the coming months."

Amagi is also distributing AccuWeather Now to other FAST platforms such as XUMO and Plex, with more in the pipeline. AccuWeather Now features a new HTML5 ticker with real-time weather information for dozens of U.S. cities, powered by AccuWeather's proprietary weather data API. 

"This is a marquee example of Amagi's ability to deliver custom HTML5 graphics integrated with an API solution to relay real-time external data," said Srinivasan KA, co-founder, Amagi. "We were able to support AccuWeather in launching their channel in strict adherence to The Roku Channel's ad load, delivery and EPG requirements, and monetize content through targeted ad insertions."

Amagi provides a complete suite of solutions for content creation, distribution, and monetization. The company also has a state-of-the-art cloud broadcast operations center that can support 1000+ live linear channels. Amagi clients include ABS-CBN, A+E Networks UK, beIN Sports, CuriosityStream, Discovery Networks, Fox Networks, Fremantle, NBCUniversal, Tastemade, Tegna, USA Today, Vice Media, and Warner Media, among others.

STATE COLLEGE, Penn.—AccuWeather later this summer will launch AccuWeather NOW, a video streaming service  dedicated to all things weather from across the U.S. and the world, the company announced today.

AccuWeather NOW will meet a growing demand for weather and climate news and content and complement AccuWeather’s existing suite of platforms. Its 24/7 national network already reaches 36 million households with another 1.5 billion people globally accessing AccuWeather forecasts via digital devices, such as desktop and apps, as well as radio, television and newspapers and digital out of home, it said.

“Our viewers depend on AccuWeather to deliver the most accurate forecast as well as comprehensive and compelling weather coverage of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, flooding, heat waves and extreme weather of all types that impact and disrupt lives and livelihoods,” said Sarah Katt, general manager at AccuWeather Network.

“Since not everyone has access to cable, and with more people becoming increasingly more invested in weather and its impact to people, communities and businesses, the launch of AccuWeather NOW is a natural extension of our global weather footprint and six decades of expertise.”

The content available on AccuWeather NOW will be different from AccuWeather’s other offerings to engage new and younger audiences with an increasing appetite to be “in the know” about weather and climate, said Katt.

“In addition to breaking weather news, AccuWeather NOW will feature, dramatic weather video; stories illustrating the potential impact of forecasted weather on sports, health and other everyday activities; engaging social weather content from popular platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and others, as well as long-form story telling of major weather events and environmental wonders around the world,” said Katt.

More information is available on the company’s website.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—AccuWeather has added the new AccuWeather Hurricane Tracker to the AccuWeather App for iOS and Android and to accuweather.com. 

"We are expecting a more active than normal hurricane season in 2021, and the AccuWeather Hurricane Tracker will give our users who want to be 'in the know' a significant advantage when preparing for and staying apprised of a storm's track, whether that storm has already made an impact or is nearing landfall," said AccuWeather's lead hurricane forecaster Dan Kottlowski.

The new feature is easily accessible from multiple entry points throughout the app, the company said, and provides users with a rich visualization of the progress of a storm, bringing a user along the interactive eye path up the coast, heading inland or going out to sea.

Start and end times will also appear below the AccuWeather Forecast Eye Path map where users can scroll down to find vital descriptive forecasted impact details for the location such as peak winds, total rainfall, rainfall amount probability graphs, hourly wind and rainfall charts and impact maps. 

AccuWeather Chief Product Officer Kurt Fulepp noted that “following the unusually active and highly destructive 2020 hurricane season, we sought to develop the most comprehensive and intuitive hurricane tracker on the market by focusing on the most hyperlocal, most detailed and most accurate information, with a highly accessible, user-friendly and sophisticated design.”

AccuWeather is forecasting that the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season will result in 16-20 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes. Of those expected to reach hurricane strength, three to five are predicted to become major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher with maximum sustained winds of 111mph or greater).

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—AccuWeather is rolling out its new StoryTeller+ all-in-one interactive touch screen platform designed to help newsrooms cover many different aspects of stories.

StoryTeller+ serves as a user-friendly platform that can create graphics and features such as maps, charts and live polling from a single software program.

Among the StoryTeller+ features is the Telestrator, which helps refine presentations with highlights, arrows, lines, circles and more to communicate and indicate a specific point. MediaMix allows for the incorporation of graphics, canned videos, websites and live video sources for content delivery. The LivePoll feature provides viewer feedback into any story by running a poll and watching the results automatically appear in real-time. In addition, a BallotBox feature enables coverage of county-by-county, state-by-state and even congressional district elections.

On the weather front, StoryTeller+ offers dynamic transitions and improved mapping for presentations, according to AccuWeather.

For more information, visit www.accuweather.com.  

STATE COLLEGE, PA.—AccuWeather said it launched on Android TV. AccuWeather said its customizable app delivers an interactive weather platform provides information on conditions across “devices and locations worldwide.”

The AccuWeather app for Android TV provides “patented… minute-by-minute forecasts with precipitation type and intensity for the next two hours, as well as start and end times, hyperlocalized to a user’s exact viewing location.”

The company said it also provides access to the “most extensive library of breaking weather videos, ranging from on-site severe weather reports to in-studio forecasts. The new app also features customizable hyper-local weather forecasts including RealFeel temperature, current conditions, and more, as well as severe weather alerts to keep people informed and safe.”

AccuWeather said, “Users have the ability to tailor their app theme, allowing them to adapt the screen background based on lighting conditions and preferences for the most personalized weather experience. Available in over 30 languages, the innovative app allows Android TV users to access the most accurate, actionable weather information and updates worldwide.”

AccuWeather and Google go back on weather collaboration, the vendor said. The AccuWeather app for Android is available on all Android phones and tablets, along with the recently launched Android Wear 2.0.

STATE COLLEGE, PA.—AccuWeather was on the scene over the weekend when a tornado touched down in Wray, Colo. Using a 360fly, the weather forecasting services provider, AccuWeather was able to capture a 360-degree video of the tornado’s path.

Posted on AccuWeather’s YouTube page, viewers change the view of the video by using the arrows in the upper-left corner, or by clicking and dragging the mouse. Check out the video below.

STATE COLLEGE, PA.—AccuWeather has premiered a new weather system that provides interactive and customizable weather presentations to television stations, the StormDirector+. AccuWeather is demonstrating the new system at the 2016 NAB Show at booth SL6010.

StormDirector+ features an intuitive interface and time-saving workflow to customize presentations. It offers broadcasters tools like AccuWeather Advanced Warnings, AccuWeather Future Radar and AccuWeather’s MinuteCast.

Available as a standalone system, StormDirector+ is compatible with StoryTeller Interactive Touchscreen Solution. It also utilizes cloud-based technology and can run on green screen, video walls, or touch screens.

LAS VEGAS—At the 2016 NAB show, Accuweather will present new features for its Storyteller interactive touchscreen system for TV newscasts. With its intuitive interface, Storyteller makes it faster and easier to deliver network-quality presentations that integrate breaking news, weather, traffic, maps, social media and user generated content from an interactive touchscreen.

Among the new features being highlighted are: Campaign Trail, Social Pulse, Map Desk and Storm Director.

Campaign Trail integrates election updates, hyper-local detailed voting maps, video from area polling stations, and dynamic, turnkey graphics designed to engage viewers.

Social Pulse pulls, sorts and integrates relevant social media content from Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms, with editing, display, and location-based search capabilities, making viewers part of breaking news stories.

MapDesk is an interactive street-level mapping solution that integrates text, live-streaming cameras, pre-produced videos and images, and other media. And Storm Director is a customizable weather solution that integrates breaking weather into news presentations.

The 2016 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 18-21. Accuweatherwill be in booth SL6010. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

STATE COLLEGE, PA.—Weather information and digital media provider AccuWeather has announced that Sarah Katt has been appointed vice president of product development and operations for the AccuWeather Network. She will report to John Dokes, general manager of AccuWeather Network and chief marketing officer of AccuWeather.

Sarah Katt

Katt’s previous position was with Verizon Communications, overseeing its multiplatform video distribution strategy. She also served in a multiplatform vide leadership role at CBS News.

Katt will be tasked with continuing to develop AccuWeather Network offerings, which recently has expanded with services like AccuWeather MinuteCast forecasts.

OTTAWA—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting that the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season will be “below-normal” in terms of storm activity. But weathercasters who cover North America’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts are taking no chances and are marshaling the latest in high-tech graphics for this year’s hurricane season, guided by an emphasis on clear, concise weather predictions.

Dr. Forbes shows real-time data using augmented reality, pulling data from Max Reality.

AUGMENTED REALITY
The Weather Channel is taking its viewers inside 3D models of this year’s hurricanes, using WSI’s “Max Reality” augmented reality software that allows the network to create realistic, miniature 3D weather systems that appear to exist in real-time within TWC’s studios. The weatherperson can walk around and interact with the AR graphic; apparently taming a tornado into a manageable in-studio companion.

TWC’s AR system uses Ncam Technologies’ Ncam Live tracking cameras to monitor the on-air talent’s location in real-time. “Our system mounts an Ncam Camera Bar onto each camera,” said Nic Hatch, CEO for Ncam, a U.K.-based provider of camera tracking technology. “The Camera Bar uses a stereoscopic lens system, plus a number of on-board sensors, to track the camera’s location and field of view in 3D.” The Ncam Camera Bars feed this locational data to the WSI Max Reality software to ensure that the 3D graphic is properly placed and framed within the live shot. Ncam does this without requiring visible markers in TWC’s studio, making it possible for WSI 3D graphics to “exist” within the studio space.

“Augmented reality takes the viewer right inside the weather to give them a more accurate picture of what is happening,” said Freddy Flaxman, senior vice president and chief operating officer for TWC. “Using the Ncam tracking system and WSI’s Max Reality, we will be able to give audience an unprecedented look inside hurricanes.”

“Our goal is to provide a unique on-air experience to help hold the audience longer,” said Bill Dow, GM/vice president of WSI’s Media Division. “64 percent of people within our research group told us that they would watch the weather longer if AR was coming up in the next segment.”

THE ‘HURRICANE INDEX’
WZVN-7, the ABC affiliate in Naples, Fla. has deployed the latest version of Baron’s Hurricane Index during this year’s hurricane season. “We use the Baron Omni graphics display system for our television broadcasts,” said John Patrick, WZVN’s chief meteorologist. Adding the new Baron Hurricane Index will give WZVN “a color-coded graphic that takes into consideration sea surface temps, wind shear, dust concentration and a few other factors to determine favorable areas for tropical development,” he said. “This, coupled with other tropical products, enable us to share our knowledge of tropical weather with viewers in a way that is easy for them to understand.”

WOFL-35, a Fox O&O in Orlando, Fla., also relies on Baron weather graphics. “The new Saharan Dust Concentrations graphic makes it easy for people to see how the heat, dry air, and dust that comes to us from the west of Africa can generate hurricanes,” said Glenn Richards, WOFL’s chief meterologist. “Baron’s 3D KML [key markup language] satellite weather photo files, which overlay on top of Google Earth, also allows us to show our viewers what is happening in a very clear yet detailed fashion.”

Is Your Weatherperson Truly Qualified?

WJZY Chief Meteorologist Rob Eicher is the current chairman of the AMS Board of Broadcast Meteorology. When it comes to TV weather forecasters, WJZY Chief Meteorologist Rob Eicher is truly qualified, with peer-reviewed certifications from the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association (NWA). Earning AMS and NWA certifications requires TV meteorologists to have their weather knowledge and on-air presentations evaluated by AMS/NWA-accredited broadcasters. Such is Eicher’s commitment to excellence in TV weathercasting, including keeping up with the latest in weather forecasting techniques and technology, that he has risen to become Chairman of the AMS Board of Broadcast Meteorology.

“The AMS and NWA processes make it possible for TV stations to certify and promote the fact that their meteorologists truly know what they are talking about,” said Eicher. “But these certifications are completely voluntary, as are any other qualifications achieved by TV meteorologists. And that’s a problem, according to Eicher. “There are no mandatory qualifications to do weather on TV,” he said. “Anyone can claim to be a meteorologist, and do so without any knowledge at all.” TV stations who have certified meteorologists are easy to spot: Their weatherpeople have the letters “AMS” and “NMA” after their names; such as WZVN’s John Patrick and WOFL’s Glenn Richards. “I’m extremely proud to have earned the AMS Certification and NWA Seal of Approval, the two highest standards of excellence for broadcast meteorologists,” said Patrick. “[I am also proud] that WZVN displays the WeatheRate seal, which TV stations earn when they are proven most accurate in their market." Savvy TV stations know the marketing value of having properly certified meteorologists on staff. This is why WOFL’s web page describes Richards as receiving his B.S. degree in meteorology from Northern Illinois University, and then working as chief meteorologist at WLFI-CBS and WFTV-ABC “until making the change to WOFL-Fox as the Chief Meteorologist in 2003.” So while it is true that anyone can do the weather at your station, it makes sound business sense to use trained, AMS/NWA-certified meteorologists than someone who has just come out of broadcast school, or has been hired primarily for their looks. “You need a license to cut someone’s hair, yet there is no requirement of any kind for someone to provide potentially lifesaving information during a weather emergency,” Eicher observed. “I think the value of the AMS/NWA certification programs is that they fill the void [for TV station owners] between not having any credentials and not necessarily wanting a legal requirement to be a meteorologist.” - James Careless

These satellite photos are due to improve substantially in 2016, after the launch and activation of NOAA’s new GOES-R (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite- R Series) satellite. “Right now, the photos we receive from the current GOES satellite are one pixel per 4 kilometers,” said Rob Eicher, chief meteorologist with WJZY-46, the Fox affiliate in Charlotte, N.C. “GOES-R will take this resolution down to 500 meters per pixel.” As well, the current GOES images only update every half hour. GOES-R images will update as often as every 30 seconds, “allowing us to show the rotation of the hurricane clouds in greater detail,” Eicher said.

For TV stations wanting to move away from the traditional green screen, AccuWeather’s StoryTeller interactive touchscreen system combines the company’s proven weather product/graphics with an 84-inch touchscreen 4K monitor to create “MinuteCast.” “Basically, MinuteCast allows a weatherperson to control and switch their on-screen graphics on air as easily as if they were using an iPad,” said Daniel Despot, AccuWeather StoryTeller’s product manager. “You can also use the system for all aspects of your newscast; not just weather.”

KEEPING IT CLEAR
Advances in TV weather graphics notwithstanding, broadcasters in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions are most focussed on keeping their hurricane coverage clear and concise. “Viewers are most interested in the 3-5 day projection cones and paths provided by NOAA,” said Aliana Perez, weather producer at WPLG-10, the ABC affiliate in Miami. “These graphics, plus predictions in straightforward language, is what our viewers count on.”

“Augmented reality looks really impressive, but our emphasis right now is on using our current graphics and Doppler radar system to best advantage,” said David Nussbaum, meteorologist at WWL-4, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans. “What our viewers want to know is what the predicted hurricane track will be and how it will affect them. This has been the case for years, even before Hurricane Katrina. That’s what WWL-TV will be giving people in New Orleans this hurricane season.”