TWC Timeline - 2000 to Present
Welcome to TWC Today's TWC Timeline. The timeline is an outline of events that have shaped TWC over the past 8 years.
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2000
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January - updated TWC logo that debuted in 1996 finally
appears on the WeatherSTAR 4000
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Many new shows debut on TWC including "Your Weather Today",
"First Outlook" , "Weekend Now", and "Atmospheres"
WeatherSTAR XL introduces narration
Steve Hurst begins his duties as the music coordinator
OCM Bruce Edwards, the first OCM to appear on TWC, departs the network.
The summer of 2000 saw TWC air “Hot Planet”, the network’s first traditional documentary program in nearly four years.
2001
"Evening Edition" premieres. Original hosts included Paul Goodloe, Nick Walker, Jennifer Lopez, and Kristina Abernathy.
TWC adopts a new slogan "Live By It"
TWC's website, weather.com, is relaunched in February
June saw yet another overhaul of on-air promos and intros.
Fall - WeatherSTAR XL recieves updated graphics to match TWC's new on-air graphics
The development of long-form programming continues with “Storm Week,” with four new documentary specials premiering over a four-day period.
TWC is seen in over 80 million homes
OCM's Mike Bono and Will Annen (one of TWC's original OCM's) leave the network.
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Spring - National Weather Service forecasts discontinued
on WeatherSTAR platforms and replaced by TWC's own in-house forecasts
May - TWC celebrates it's 20th anniversary with a special retrospective, a behind the scenes look at the network, and the release of Frank Battens' book "TWC at 20: The Improbably Rise Of A Media Phenomenon"
Alexandra Steele becomes the new travel analyst for
“Your Weather Today.” Dennis Smith continues on “First Outlook.”
Eboni Dion joins the network
2003
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"Atmospheres" is discontinued as a new pre-recordrd show,
"Storm Stories" premieres
September - WeatherSTAR XL gets new Lower Display Line (LDL) during national programming. The new LDL, dubbed the "black bar" replaced the pervious transparent bar that was used since the XL's introduction
Hillary Andrews and Stephanie Abrams join the network
TWC relaunches, but with the same "Live by It" slogan. All programs receive new graphics, the maps recieve new title bars, and Day Planner, PM Edition, and Overnight Outlook premiere. The following weekend, Weekend Planner premieres.
Longtime OCM's Rick Griffin, Marny Stanier and Terri Smith leave the network.
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March - The next generation WeatherSTAR, the IntelliStar
is introduced at many headends across the nation. For the first time in TWC's
history, the local forecast is read to the viewer
December 31 - The end of life for the WeatherSTAR 3000. After 20 years of service, the FCC demands that the 3000 is discontinued because it can not produce a warning tone each time a weather warning is displayed
TWC introduces its “Road Crew” during “Your Weather Today” and other programs, hosted by Kelsa Kinsley.
Nicole Mitchell joins the network
Sandra Diaz and Melissa Barrington leave the network
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August 15 - The most drastic TWC relaunch in history.
The old rounded logo that had been in use since 1982 is replaced by a new blue
square logo and the slogan is now changed to "Bringing Weather To Life". The
WeatherSTAR XL and IntelliStar also get graphical makeovers to accompany the
relaunch
January - A new show "It Could Happen Tomorrow" is introduced
Hilary Andrews and Sarah Libby depart
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May - TWC's 25th anniversary. A special program "The
100 Biggest Weather Moments" airs showcasing the top 100 moments of weather
October 1 - TWC goes High-Definition for two select shows, "Weather Ventures" and "Epic Conditions"
Samantha Mohr joins TWC as an OCM.
May saw TWC make an attempt at playing vocal music on the Local Forecast during primetime hours. The vocal tunes were short lived, however, removed only days after they began.
On September 17th TWC's local forecast music computer fails. For the next 24 hours, Trammell Starks is heard on every local forecast. Finally, late on the 18th the computer is returned to service and the Trammell-a-thon concludes.
Brian Picard takes over for Steve Hurst as music coordinator
Longtime OCM Jeanetta Jones leaves the network
Bob Stokes leaves the network after it is revealed that he sexually harassed several female OCM's.
Late on the evening of January 21, 2008, TWC experiences major technical difficulties, which knock the channel off the air until early the next morning. Even when the channel came back on the air early Thursday morning, they were running a very skin and bones operation, only being able to utilize the bare necessities for presentations. By noon on Thursday the network returns to mostly normally operations, but minor problems and glitches continued to plague the network for the remainder of the day. The event comes to be known as TWC's Meltdown.
Landmark Communications, TWC's parent company, announces that it will sell allof its assets, including TWC. TWC would be purchased by NBC Universal.
In November, NBC announces massive layoffs to affect TWC. Included in the layoffs were Dave Schwartz, Eboni Deon, Cheryl Lemke, the entireenvironmental unit (except Heidi Cullen), the Road Crew (except Jeff Mielcarz), some of the radio department, PR spokesperson Chris Hoitsma, and various other personnel. NBC then announces that further layoffs may come.
TWC goes fully HD, and begins testing a new HD STAR unit.