The Weather Channel (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Weather Channel is an Australia
n 24 hour cable
and satellite
channel that broadcasts weather news and information. The Weather Channel is available on Foxtel
, Austar
and Optus Television
.
In early 2000, the channel's name was changed to "The Weather Channel" as it was no longer number 21 on viewer's remote controls. As the hours of live presentation were extended, additional presenters were added in Tracey Malmborg, Jaynie Seal, Rebecca Le Tourneau and Garry Youngberry.
In 2003, Austar sold the channel to XYZ Networks and the channel appeared on the Foxtel Network. At the same time the channel programming evolved to better suit the now largely metropolitan audience. With the launch of Foxtel's Digitals platform, the channel has extended its distribution with an Open TV interactive weather application (Weather Active)The channel also has a popular weather web site(more below).
In 2004, The Weather Channel had a major change including their logo, graphics and programming line up and a new version of Weather Active for Foxtel Digital.
In the middle of June 2008, The Weather Channel again had a major change with their graphics as the channel grows on its programming line up.
Weather content on the channel is provided by Metra
and The Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
and Austar
Digital Services, an interactive weather service called 'Weather Active' is available.
It provides local weather information, such as current conditions, marine and surf reports, dam information, 28 day rain forecast, capital city forecast and 10-day forecasts for the user's postcode. It also provides a state radar, national satellite and national lightning tracker.
There is also a weekend weather e-mail service. E-mails are sent to members on Fridays and give the weekend (Sat, Sun,Mon and Tue) forecast and information on new programs, special reports or a major current weather feature, such as cyclones.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 24 hour cable
Cable
A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables are used to carry...
and satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
channel that broadcasts weather news and information. The Weather Channel is available on Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
, Austar
Austar
Austar is an Australian telecommunications company. Its main business activity is Subscription Television but it is also involved with internet access and mobile phones...
and Optus Television
Optus Television
Optus Television is the cable television division of Australian telecommunications company Optus.-History:Its immediate predecessor was Optus Vision, a joint venture between, Optus and Continental Cablevision with small shareholdings by media companies Publishing and Broadcasting Limited and Seven...
.
History
The Weather Channel started broadcasting on 1 January 1999 under the name "Weather 21". The name was chosen as it was channel 21 on the Austar channel line up. Weather 21 was set up by Cox Inall Communications and the meteorological firm, The Weather Company and was owned by Austar. The programming was pitched to Austar's largely rural and regional audience. Initial presenters on the channel were Allan Humphries, Lyndal Davies and meteorologist Mark Hardy. Presenters were live from 6am to 10pm daily with the overnight programming consisting of an automated loop of forecasts, satellite and radar covered by music.In early 2000, the channel's name was changed to "The Weather Channel" as it was no longer number 21 on viewer's remote controls. As the hours of live presentation were extended, additional presenters were added in Tracey Malmborg, Jaynie Seal, Rebecca Le Tourneau and Garry Youngberry.
In 2003, Austar sold the channel to XYZ Networks and the channel appeared on the Foxtel Network. At the same time the channel programming evolved to better suit the now largely metropolitan audience. With the launch of Foxtel's Digitals platform, the channel has extended its distribution with an Open TV interactive weather application (Weather Active)The channel also has a popular weather web site(more below).
In 2004, The Weather Channel had a major change including their logo, graphics and programming line up and a new version of Weather Active for Foxtel Digital.
In the middle of June 2008, The Weather Channel again had a major change with their graphics as the channel grows on its programming line up.
Weather content on the channel is provided by Metra
Metra
Metra is the commuter rail division of the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. The system serves Chicago and its metropolitan area through 240 stations on 11 different rail lines. Throughout the 21st century, Metra has been the second busiest commuter rail system in the United States by...
and The Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Digital Services
On FoxtelFoxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
and Austar
Austar
Austar is an Australian telecommunications company. Its main business activity is Subscription Television but it is also involved with internet access and mobile phones...
Digital Services, an interactive weather service called 'Weather Active' is available.
It provides local weather information, such as current conditions, marine and surf reports, dam information, 28 day rain forecast, capital city forecast and 10-day forecasts for the user's postcode. It also provides a state radar, national satellite and national lightning tracker.
Website
The Weather Channel launched a new website on 24 March 2010 (http://www.theweatherchannel.com.au). The new website features a 10 day forecast, part day and 3 hourly forecasts (all as local as postcode level), breaking weather, weather photos sent in by viewers, information on the water crises, emergency contact numbers, weathercams and program information.There is also a weekend weather e-mail service. E-mails are sent to members on Fridays and give the weekend (Sat, Sun,Mon and Tue) forecast and information on new programs, special reports or a major current weather feature, such as cyclones.
Current Presenters
- Sally AyhanSally AyhanSally Ayhan is a weekend presenter for The Weather Channel who has a background as an actor, model and writer before joining the Weather Channel in mid 2009....
- Lee Brooks
- Amy Greenbank
- Ken Heatley
- Josh Holt
- Dave KirwanDave KirwanDave Kirwan is an Australian television and radio host who works as a presenter on The Weather Channel.. He was also formerly the only Australian radio announcer in New York City, the number one media market in the USA, being a DJ on CBS owned FM radio station 923-KROCKHis twelve year media career...
- Hannah McEwan
- Reuben MouradReuben MouradReuben Mourad is an Australian radio host and television presenter, based in Sydney.-Career history:Reuben Mourad’s media career has spanned across many facets of television and radio, as a presenter, voice over and also in media programming.An Australian Film Television and Radio School ...
Former Presenters
- Kyly BoldyKyly BoldyKyly Boldy is the girlfriend of Australian Cricket Captain Michael Clarke. She is a former presenter for The Weather Channel in Australia. Kyly Boldy has a background in modeling and acting and joined weather channel in 2009....
- Sally Bowrey
- Jaci Brown
- Bruce Buckley
- Graham Creed
- Lyndal DaviesLyndal DaviesLyndal Davies is a journalist graduate of Queensland University of Technology. From 1991 she has been making cinema and video of wildlife inspired by Jane Goodall and Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente....
- Jon Dee
- Jane Drinkwater
- Mark HardyMark HardyLea Mark Hardy is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and Minnesota North Stars between 1979 and 1994.-NHL career:...
- Allan Humphries
- Rose Jacobs
- Ian Leslie
- Rebecca Le Torneau
- Tracey Malmborg
- Gavin Morris
- Ed PhillipsEd PhillipsEd Phillips is an Australian Sydney-based television and radio presenter. He is probably best known for hosting the national game-show Temptation in the mid-2000's.-Career:...
- Magdalena Roze
- Jaynie SealJaynie Seal-Career:Seal is a weather presenter with the Nine Network, appearing on Nine News Sydney and Nine Afternoon News as well as being the Nine Network Lotto host....
- Angela Tsun
- Garry Youngberry
Former Meteorologists
- Mark Hardy
- Tracey Malmborg
- Bruce Buckley
- Don White
- Clare Richards
- Jane Bunn
- Alex Zadnik