The Weather Channel(R) Announces New Programming Lineup

The Weather Channel(R) Announces New Programming Lineup

Network Unveils "Weekend View," "If It Happens Tomorrow" and "The Weather Channel Top Ten Lists"

ATLANTA, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Weather Channel, the nation's popular all-weather network, is shaking things up with the announcement of its 2005/2006 programming lineup. These new programs have been developed to create a deeper relationship with viewers, helping them to embrace every dimension of weather -- from planning and preparing to awe-inspiring and emotionally connecting. New on the scene will be an energetic weekend program titled "Weekend View," which will present weather and lifestyle information in a personable, conversational style that resonates with weekend morning viewers. The Weather Channel will also premiere "If It Happens Tomorrow" which will capture viewers attention by presenting "what if" scenarios for some of the nation's worst natural disasters, and "The Weather Channel Top Ten Lists," which will reveal which cities are the sunniest, coldest, rainiest, etc.

"'Weekend View' will be upbeat and informative, while providing relevant weather and lifestyle information that our viewers need to help them plan their weekend activities," said Patrick Scott, President of The Weather Channel Networks. "The program is being produced for the viewers' weekend state of mind. The new anchor format will help viewers to get to know our talent, as they engage in lively on-camera conversations, discussions and interaction with studio and field meteorologists."

"Weekend View" will premiere this summer and will air from 7 to 11 a.m. ET on Saturdays and Sundays. The show will be hosted and anchored by a newcomer to The Weather Channel Dao Vu. Vu is well prepared for her new role at The Weather Channel, as she has been anchoring the news segment of "The Daily Buzz," a three-hour live morning show carried by more than 100 television stations nationwide, since its launch in February 2003. Prior to joining "The Daily Buzz," Vu held anchoring and reporting positions in Ohio, Michigan and Idaho. Meteorologist Stephanie Abrams, who joined The Weather Channel in 2003 and quickly made a name for herself with viewers with her excellent live hurricane coverage during the 2004 season, will serve as field meteorologist for the show. Abrams will be on-location to provide live weather reports from various events, while spontaneously interacting with people at her locale of the moment. In-studio meteorologists will be veterans Kelly Cass and Bill Keneely. The show will include special series; weather event coverage; travel, recreation, sports and lifestyle features such as P. Allen Smith and Danny Lipford vignettes; "The Weather Channel Road Crew" segments with Kelsa Kinsley; and science and climate stories with climatologist Dr. Heidi Cullen. Viewers will continue to receive their local, hometown forecasts as well as forecasts for the rest of the world in short, interesting segments that feature new, refreshing weather graphics created exclusively for the show.

"Watching The Weather Channel 'Weekend View' will definitely put viewers in the mood to make the most out of their weekend," added Scott.

"If It Happens Tomorrow" will be a new weekly show that recounts some of America's worst natural disasters and examines the scientific likelihood of such an event occurring again in the same geographic area. For example, in 1938 a ferocious Category 3 hurricane with winds exceeding 120-miles per hour roared onto Long Island, killing more than 600 people and destroying thousands of homes and buildings. What if another hurricane of the same magnitude (or stronger) hit Long Island tomorrow? What if it drifted 100 miles west and hit New York City? How many people would now be in its path of destruction? How many additional homes, schools, hospitals and businesses would now be at risk? Are cities and communities better prepared today? Are people safer now than they were then? What are the odds of this scenario happening again? Has technology made it easier to forecast such events and provide earlier warnings?

The Weather Channel will also premiere "The Weather Channel Top Ten Lists," November 28 through December 2, 2005, from 9-10 p.m. ET. "The Weather Channel Top Ten Lists" will rank America's major metro areas, unveiling which are the sunniest, cloudiest, rainiest, snowiest, hottest, coldest and driest. The show will be a fast-paced, entertainment-style program that reveals some of the best and worst places for weather conditions in America's lower 48. "'The Weather Channel Top Ten Lists' will be five nights loaded with personality and fun that count down destinations known for a particular type of weather -- whether nasty or nice," said Scott.

For interviews with Patrick Scott or any of The Weather Channel on-camera meteorologists, please contact Kristin Thomas at 405-706-5642 or thomaspr@sbcglobal.net or Angela Fisher at 404-819-4917 or abrfisher@comcast.net.

Source: The Weather Channel

CONTACT: Angela Fisher, +1-404-819-4917, or abrfisher@comcast.net , or Kristin Thomas, +1-405-706-5642, or thomaspr@sbcglobal.net , both for The Weather Channel

Web site: http://www.weather.com/

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