TWC Timeline - 1982-1999
Welcome to TWC Today's TWC Timeline. The timeline is an outline of events that shaped TWC over its first 17 years.
To go back to the main page of the reference section, simply click the Go Back button at the bottom of the page.
1982
-
May 2, 1982 - The network launches, signing on to the air for the very first time from its studios on Mt. Wilkinson Parkway in Atlanta. Premiere OCM's were Bruce Edwards (Kalinowski) and Andre Bernier.
1985
Original OCM's Andre Bernier and Karen Minton leave the network.
Even though not apprarent to viewers, TWC has struggled mightly over its first 3 years, and by now is on the brink of closure. But a relaunch a year later, along with some reworking behind the scenes, would ultimately save the network from demise.
1986
Marshall Seese, Jeff Morrow, Jeanetta Jones, Jim Cantore, and Marny Stanier arrive at the network.
June 20 - TWC relaunches as The New Weather Channel. The relaunch includes a makeover of its on air presentation, compelte with an entirely new set. New programming included "The Morning Report," "Weather and You," "Weather Watch," "Tomorrow's Outlook," "Pacific Outlook," "The Week Ahead," "This Weekend," and "Weekend Update." The morning and evening programming blocks are now anchored by Liz Jarvis and Dave Nemeth and Dennis Smith and Charlie Welsh, respectively. A new on-air campaign, "You Need Us For Everything You Do," is launched as well.
-
TWC airs its first special broadcast. "Eye Of The Storm," a one-hour special with taped and live segments hosted by Colleen Wine, hurricane expert John Hope and meteorologist Glenn Schwartz is broadcast.
Dan Pope, Keith Westerlage, and Cheryl Lemke arrive at the network.
Gay Dawson, Neal Estano Jerry Tracey, and Colleen Wine leave the network.
September 1 - A host of new Local Forecast flavors, including A, B and C (:50); H (1:00); J (3:00); and an unnamed 1:30 that was the forerunner to the more-familiar K flavor that premiered in 1990 debut.
-
Vivian Brown, Cindy Preszler, Carl Arredondo, Kam Karman, and Mike Bono arrive at the network. Dave Watson and Mary Brown depart.
-
The network relocates its studios to Cumberland Parkway, also in Atlanta.
- Three new specials, "Clash Of Seasons" (severe storms), "Global Crisis" (greenhouse effect), and "John Hope On Hurricanes." premiere.
- TWC's first live call in show, "Drought Watch," which aired twice daily during the summer, is broadcast. The show was hosted by John Doyle in the mornings. In July, Jeff Morrow hosts an evening version of the show.
- Another live show, "Weather View", a weekend program hosted by Liz Jarvis, premieres but lasts only briefly.
- TWC broadcasts its first major live storm coverage with the landfall of Hurrican Gilbert. OCM's Dennis Smith and Liz Jarvis were sent to the Gulf of Mexico to cover the storm.
1989
TWC revamps its "You Need Us" campaign with a new music cue and graphics. TWC also unveiled a new set, introducing viewers to the Forecast Center.
Rich Johnson joins the network, while Liz Jarvis, John Doyle and Dan Pope depart.
-
The network reeceives a Cable ACE Award from the National Academy of Cable Programming, for its 1989 coverage of Hurricane Hugo.
Diane Barone arrives at the network.
The network airs three more specials, "Within Our Power" (solar and wind power generation), "Force Four" (Hurricane Hugo), and "Aftershock" (San Francisco earthquake of 1989).
TWC drops all of its :50 local forecast flavors and updates its morning daypart programming.
For the first time the TWC logo is placed in the local forecast.
The WeatherSTAR 4000 debuts, marking TWC's first graphic capable local forecast machine. However, it did not initially produce a graphical LF. THis did not occur until late 90-early 91.
Segments such as "the Morning Report" and "Weather Watch" are discontinued.
The universal playlist debuts. The multiple playlist format is scrapped, with all cable and satellite viewers receiving the same audio feed during local forecast segments. Only the narration differs.
TWC takes its first foray into telecommunications forecasting, launching 1-900-WEATHER.
Terri Smith, Dave Schwartz, Lisa Spencer, and Tom Chisholm arrive at the network. Diane Barone, Kam Karman, Kevan Ramer, George Elliott, and Carl Arredondo leave the network.
On February 1 TWC updates its look with new graphics and show openers, and adopts its "Weather You Can Always Turn To" campaign.
1992
Jodi Saeland, Mike Seidel, Brad Edwards, and Rick Griffin (an original staff member who had left the network eight years earlier) arrive at the network. Vince Miller and Bill Schubert leave.
The Weather Classroom, a daily 10 minute segment geared to students, debuts.
TWC goes live around the clock to cover Hurricane Andrew as it pounds Florida. Dennis Smith and Jim Cantore cover the vent live from Florida.
Specials this year include "The Enemy Wind" (tornadoes), as well as "The Dark Days Of August" (Hurricane Andrew), and "El Nino: Drought to Deluge."
1993
Sharon Resultan joins the network.
Two specials air this year, "Fire Safe" (a joint production with the State of California) and "Out of the Blue" (windshear).
The network goes wall-to-wall with coverage of the east coast Superstorm. It follows that quickly with a "Super Weekend" of specials that included a 30 minute documentary on the storm and "The Climate Puzzle" the day after.
1994
"Headlines" debuts and is shown during the 8pm ET hour. The show consists of 10 minutes of continuous weather coverage, followed by J flavored (also known as the LL flavor) LF. The show runs during 30 minute programming blocks which feature fewer commercials and LFs.
TWC airs two specials this year, "The Year The Sky Fell" (active weather from spring to winter '93/'94), "Target Tornado," and "The Burning Season" (wildfires).
Kristina Abernathy, Janine D'Adamo (Albert) and Kim Perez (who originally joined in 91 as a forecaster) join the network.
Bonnie McLaughlin, Lisa Spencer, and Tom Chisholm leave the network.
Two specials, "The Chase" (tornadoes) and "Hurricanes 95: Season on Edge." air this year.
The network launches a forum on CompuServe. Originally run by Weather Channel employees, forum control is later given to a CompuServe employee that ruins it shortly thereafter. Around the same time, weather.com debuts as "The Weather Channel Interactive."
Local Forecast flavors are dramatically consolidated. The "Local Update" page that includes NowCast information from the National Weather Service is added to certain flavors. Narration of the local forecast is discontinued.
-
January 1 - TWC begins using music specifically composed for the LF. The music of Trammell Starks debuts. Mr. Starks created a set of close to 40 songs that The network would use throughout the next two years. It would later use several of these tracks as background music for its WeatherScan Local channel, as well as back-up music for whenever the regular playlist or WeatherSTAR failed to load (thus replacing the long-standing use of Travel Forecast music).
-
Specials produced by the network were discontinued. For nearly four years the network didn't have any specials. Instead, pouring its resources into upgrading its on-air look and live weather coverage.
- Warren Madden and Gene Rubin (who had a previous stint at the network) arrive. Brad Edwards and Jodi Saeland depart.
- The network introduces the "No Place on Earth Has Better Weather" campaign which is followed quickly by the most significant makeover of its on-air appearance yet; including new promos, intros, and graphics.
- Three specials, "The Power of Weather" (education), "Great Weather Disasters," and "Tornado Chase 96.", aired this year before specials were discontinued.
1997
Lisa Mozer, Dan Atkinson, Bob Stokes, Myke Motley, and Kristin Dodd arive. Declan Cannon departs.
A brand new studio premieres after the network relocates again. Shortly thereafter, TWC discontinues tours of its studio and premises.
The network begins using more weather experts during storm coverage, with expanded on-air roles for senior forecasters such as Stu Ostro, Colin Marquee and Jamie Simpson.
-
Another on-air makeover includes the renaming of the network's half-hour programming blocks from "WeatherScope" to "WeatherCenter" and the premiere of a very popular, self-deprecating campaign proclaiming "Weather Fans You're Not Alone."
- Steve Lyons (who joins John Hope in reporting and analyzing tropical weather developments) arrives, while Gene Rubin departs.
weather.com receives an upgrade to its appearance.
July 1 - Quarterly LF music playlist format debuts.
Heather Tesch, Paul Goodloe, Carl Parker, and Nick Walker arrives, Dan Atkinson departs. Paul Kocin (winter weath expert) and Dr. Greg Forbes (severe weatehr expert) also arrive.
Terri Smith, Dave Schwartz, Lisa Spencer, and Tom Chisholm arrive at the network. Diane Barone, Kam Karman, Kevan Ramer, George Elliott, and Carl Arredondo leave the network.
On February 1 TWC updates its look with new graphics and show openers, and adopts its "Weather You Can Always Turn To" campaign.
P. Allen Smith, a gardening expert (who never seems to get dirty), premieres in special features on the network.
The WeatherStar XL premieres on limited cable systems with greatly improved graphics and animation.