Record 51 Million People Heeded The Weather Channel Warnings as Hurricane Katrina Cut Across Coasts

Record 51 Million People Heeded The Weather Channel Warnings as Hurricane Katrina Cut Across Coasts

ATLANTA, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- When Hurricane Katrina emerged as this summer's 11th named storm, The Weather Channel was on the scene with continuous coverage of the storm's dangerous lifespan as it escalated. Experts at the all-weather channel knew, from the very earliest stages, that Katrina would be one of the worst hurricanes they had seen in many years.

Beginning a week ago, several crews were mobilized and dispatched, traveling from location to location, giving advance warnings and keeping viewers aware of what was likely to occur with the storm. "Our biggest concern during these types of weather situations is how to best warn and prepare people; this is always foremost in our minds," said Debora Wilson, president of The Weather Channel Companies. "We know that millions count on us to provide them with the information they need to understand and cope with the effects of a storm such as Katrina." She noted that at every turn, every hour, the TWC team excelled with outstanding reporting and insights, "mixed with a balance of human empathy and concern for people directly in harm's way -- as well as for all the others who care about those in the path of the storm."

As the storm poised for landfall, crews were settled at locations in and around the major impact points. Jim Cantore was in Gulfport, MS; Mike Seidel in Mobile, AL; Stephanie Abrams reported from Ft. Walton Beach, FL; and Jeff Morrow was posted just outside of New Orleans, LA. The network's hurricane expert Dr. Steve Lyons worked almost around the clock from TWC's studio in Atlanta, GA; when the threat and fear that tornadoes would be spawned on land, severe weather/tornado expert Dr. Gregory Forbes provided additional insight and advice to viewers.

When more people turned to The Weather Channel to keep them ahead of the storm, the network broke a record of its own, reaching almost 51 million viewers with storm coverage and public safety messages. TWC achieved a new all-time household record with a 2.2 rating, representing an average of over 1.9 million homes. Their previous record for highest total day rating ever achieved was last year on September 13, the day leading up to Hurricane Ivan's landfall, with a total day rating of 1.9, representing 1.6 million homes.

[Note: The information below depicts Total Viewers on Sunday, August 28, 2005]

NETWORK TOTAL VIEWERS

TWC 50,583,243 FOXNC 36,853,506 CNN 33,879,656 MSNBC 23,234,940 HLN 20,094,332 CNBC 7,142,799

Total US - All News/Info Unduplicated Audience 83,323,386

Source: Nielsen Media Research 8/28/05 (6a - 3A), based on a 1 min. qualifier

Additionally, Hurricane Katrina led to an increase in traffic to The Weather Channel Web site, weather.com. On Sunday, August 28, according to The Weather Channel's Interactive internal measurement, approximately 3.5 million unique users visited weather.com, the third highest weekend day in the history of the site. On Monday, August 29, approximately 7 million unique users visited weather.com, the second highest day in the history of weather.com. In addition, on Monday, weather.com set a record for page views and for unique users of Desktop Weather.

For additional information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Kathy Lane, 770-226-2102, klane@weather.com.

Source: The Weather Channel

CONTACT: Kathy Lane of The Weather Channel, +1-770-226-2102, or klane@weather.com

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

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