Timeline
More Than 35 Years of Excellence and Achievement

June 2019
Felicia Combs joins The Weather Channel as on-camera meteorologist
May 2019
Jacqui Jeras joins The Weather Channel as on-camera meteorologist
June 2018
IMR launches. With Immersive Mixed Reality, the evolution of weather presentation ignites
May 2018
Tevin Wooten joins The Weather Channel as on-camera meteorologist
March 2018
Byron Allen acquires The Weather Channel adding to Entertainment Studios’ HD networks
July 2017
Chris Bruin Joins The Weather Channel as On-Camera Meteorologist
May 2017
The Weather Channel Celebrates 35 Anniversary
March 2017
Dr. Rick Knabb Returns to The Weather Channel as On-Camera Hurricane Expert
October 2016
The Weather Channel Ranked #1 During Height of Hurricane Matthew Coverage Among P25-54
July 2016
Jim Cantore celebrates 30 years at The Weather Channel
June 2016
Local Now launches mobile app
April 2016
We Love Weather,
March 2016
Local Now launches on on Sling TV
January 2016
The Weather Channel Television Network becomes its own business when it officially breaks from The Weather Company an IBM Business.
October 2015
IBM Announces Plan to Acquire The Weather Company’s Product and Technology Businesse
August 2015
Weather Underground premieres on The Weather Channel
May 2015
The Weather Channel launches live interactive augmented reality weather presentations
March 2015
IBM and The Weather Company Partner
March 2014
The Weather Channel debuts new morning show, AMHQ with Sam Champion.
May 2013
(May) - The Weather Channel is named the number 2 all-time free app for iPad and number 7 all-time free app for iPhone.
The Weather Channel is named the number 2 all-time free app for iPad and number 7 all-time free app for iPhone.
April 2013
Innovation: The Weather Channel surpasses 100 million cumulative app downloads.
Innovation: The Weather Channel surpasses 100 million cumulative app downloads.
March 2013
Innovation: (March) - The Weather Company launches LocalFX.
Innovation: The Weather Company launches LocalFX.
February 2013
(February) - The Weather Channel introduces native ad product, branded backgrounds for mobile.
The Weather Channel introduces native ad product, branded backgrounds for mobile.
October 2012
(October) - The Weather Channel Companies become The Weather Company.
The Weather Channel Companies become The Weather Company.
(October) - The Weather Channel becomes the first national organization in North America to proactively name winter storms. PHOTO: NAMING_WINTER_STORMS_650X366
The Weather Channel becomes the first national organization in North America to proactively name winter storms.
(October) - First livestream of The Weather Channel on YouTube during Superstorm Sandy, which resulted in all-time number one day across platform.
First livestream of The Weather Channel on YouTube during Superstorm Sandy, which resulted in all-time number one day across platform.
September 2012
Innovation: (September) - The Weather Company launches WeatherFX.
Innovation: The Weather Company launches WeatherFX.
August 2012
Weather Services International (WSI) acquires Weather Central.
July 2012
(July) The Weather Company acquires Weather Underground.
The Weather Company acquires Weather Underground.
March 2011
A mobile leader since joining the mobile space, The Weather Channel surpasses 50 million cumulative app downloads on all smart phones and tablets.
A mobile leader since joining the mobile space, The Weather Channel surpasses 50 million cumulative app downloads on all smart phones and tablets.
December 2010
Viewership Milestone: 100 Million Households
The Weather Channel reaches the 100-million-household milestone, making it one of the most widely distributed cable networks in the U.S.
Innovation: First launch of private cross-platform ad exchange.
Viewership Milestone: 100 Million Households
November 2009
Viewership Milestone: More Than 99 Million Households
The Weather Channel launches Wake Up With Al, a new kind of primetime morning show exploring all aspects of the day's weather, hosted by Al Roker and Stephanie Abrams.
Innovation: First availability of segmentation targeting on mobile web.
Viewership Milestone: More Than 99 Million Households
September 2008
Viewership Milestone: More Than 98 Million Households
The new TWC HD Studio opens. In September, The Weather Channel Companies is purchased by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital.
Innovation: Video advertising is available on mobile web.
Innovation: WSI launches TruVu Max, offering next-generation weather graphics to media broadcasters nationwide
Viewership Milestone: More Than 98 Million Households
March 2007
Viewership Milestone: More Than 96 Million Households
Launch of The Weather Channel HD and construction of new 12,500-sq.-ft. facility for presentation of all studio programming in HD in 2008.
weather.com reaches 35 million monthly unique users and weather mobile averages 6 million users per month (No. 2 website behind Yahoo!)
Viewership Milestone: More Than 96 Million Households
August 2006
Viewership Milestone: Nearly 90 Million Households
Launch of new series, It Could Happen Tomorrow which sustained ratings increases averaging 53 percent for its time period compared to the year before; other new program launches include nightly series Abrams & Bettes – Beyond the Forecast and TV’s only weekly climate change program, Forecast Earth with Dr. Heidi Cullen.
Innovation: Advertisers begin to customize content by target audience; launching weather-triggered advertising opportunities on all platforms (TV, online and mobile).
Viewership Milestone: Nearly 90 Million Households
April 2006
CCTV-China selects Weather Central broadcast graphics solutions
CCTV-China selects Weather Central broadcast graphics solutions
August 2005
Viewership Milestone: More Than 89 Million Households
TWC sets new record with total day rating of 2.2 during Hurricane Katrina coverage and participates in MobiTV launch for wireless.
Viewership Milestone: More Than 89 Million Households
March 2004
weather.com sets records with 25 million unique users and Nielsen-rated top 10 online site.
weather.com sets records with 25 million unique users and Nielsen-rated top 10 online site.
April 2003
Innovation: WSI offers first 3D display of a hurricane using NEXRAD Level II data (Hurricane Isabel)
Personalized weather alerts for mobile, web devices (patented) (The Weather Channel)
Innovation: WSI offers first 3D display of a hurricane using NEXRAD Level II data (Hurricane Isabel)
March 2003
Viewership Milestone: More Than 85 Million Households
Launch of first-ever primetime series, Storm Stories.
Innovation: Launches HIRADtm system, dramatically increases accuracy of weather condition information and increases frequency of updated forecasts. Increases accuracy of weather gathering information from 1,500 locations in the US (based on National Weather Service observational data) to 470,000 unique locations in the US (based on multi-dimensional information including satellite data, radar, observed conditions) which provides unsurpassed accuracy.
Viewership Milestone: More Than 85 Million Households
April 2002
WSI launches Spanish WeatherNow
WSI launches Spanish WeatherNow
March 2002
Viewership Milestone: 85 Million Households
The Weather Channel is honored with a Beacon Award in the media category for its Rays Awareness sun safety campaign.
The Weather Channel Mobile offers paid applications for feature phones.
Innovation: First availability of customized weather information for OnStar mobile services.
Viewership Milestone: 85 Million Households
March 2001
Viewership Milestone: 80 Million Households
Weather Underground launches its network of Personal Weather Stations
Viewership Milestone: 80 Million Households
March 2000
The Weather Channel launches alert products.
Innovation: First provider to deliver custom weather alerts to desktop, mobile and landline phones. First ubiquitous availability of content on TV, online wireless.
The Weather Channel launches alert products.
November 1999
Innovation: The Weather Channel launches Weatherscan channel on select cable systems delivering exclusively local weather conditions; no national forecast. First availability of 24-hour local conditions from a national provider.
Innovation: The Weather Channel launches Weatherscan channel on select cable systems delivering exclusively local weather conditions; no national forecast. First availability of 24-hour local conditions from a national provider.
October 1999
WSI launches a satellite-delivered weather service to South America
WSI launches a satellite-delivered weather service to South America
September 1999
Weather Underground launches its first mobile website.
Weather Underground launches its first mobile website.
August 1999
During coverage of the first storm of 1999, TWC achieves its largest single day audience delivery ever of one million households.
During coverage of the first storm of 1999, TWC achieves its largest single day audience delivery ever of one million households.
February 1998
Continuous growth in broadband activities with launch of first wireless weather content in 1998.The Weather Channel mobile content launches (Palm PDA), making The Weather Channel the first to provide ubiquitous availability of weather content across all screens - television, mobile and web.
Continuous growth in broadband activities with launch of first wireless weather content in 1998.The Weather Channel mobile content launches (Palm PDA), making The Weather Channel the first to provide ubiquitous availability of weather content across all screens - television, mobile and web.
April 1995
Launch of Intellicast, WSI’s ad-sponsored Internet site at intellicast.com
Launch of Intellicast, WSI’s ad-sponsored Internet site at intellicast.com
March 1995
weather.com launches
weather.com launches
February 1995
"Weather Underground launches the first commercial weather website at weatherunderground.com. "
Weather Underground launches the first commercial weather website at weatherunderground.com.
June 1991
Weather Underground launches a Telnet service at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Weather Underground launches a Telnet service at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
February 1991
The Weather Channel wins Golden CableACE from the National Academy of Cable Programming for coverage of Hurricane Hugo.
The Weather Channel wins Golden CableACE from the National Academy of Cable Programming for coverage of Hurricane Hugo.
March 1989
WSI is first to demonstrate weather in the cockpit to FAA, with LincolnLab (WSI)
WSI is first to demonstrate weather in the cockpit to FAA, with LincolnLab (WSI)
September 1988
WSI is first to provide mosaic radar imagery with the announcement of NOWrad. Later displays the first NOWrad view of a hurricane structure on television of Hurricane Hugo in 1989
WSI is first to provide mosaic radar imagery with the announcement of NOWrad. Later displays the first NOWrad view of a hurricane structure on television of Hurricane Hugo in 1989
June 1988
The Weather Channel commits to breaking news, covering the drought and Hurricane Gilbert.
The Weather Channel commits to breaking news, covering the drought and Hurricane Gilbert.
January 1987
The Weather Channel produces its first one-hour special.
The Weather Channel produces its first one-hour special.
January 1986
The Weather Channel upgrades talent, adopts the anchor concept and adds more video footage.
The Weather Channel upgrades talent, adopts the anchor concept and adds more video footage.
January 1983
Some are ready to pull the plug. But the company makes hard decisions to stay on the air; dramatic progress is made a year later with a 44 percent increase in subscribers.
Some are ready to pull the plug. But the company makes hard decisions to stay on the air; dramatic progress is made a year later with a 44 percent increase in subscribers.
June 1982
Innovation: The Weather Channel is the first 24-hour network devoted to weather programming and the first national TV network able to automatically customize content based on viewer location.
Innovation: The Weather Channel is the first 24-hour network devoted to weather programming and the first national TV network able to automatically customize content based on viewer location.
May 1982
Despite naysayers, Frank Batten, Sr., gives the go-ahead for The Weather Channel® which launches May 2, 1982 amid much fanfare.
Despite naysayers, Frank Batten, Sr., gives the go-ahead for The Weather Channel® which launches May 2, 1982 amid much fanfare.
WSI Media Group delivers its first satellite image, produced at TASC, to WBZ in Boston
WSI Media Group delivers its first satellite image, produced at TASC, to WBZ in Boston
January 1980
Expansion into aviation weather systems. WSI is the first to provide aviation weather briefings via dial-up, called Pilotbrief
Expansion into aviation weather systems. WSI is the first to provide aviation weather briefings via dial-up, called Pilotbrief
Expansion into aviation weather systems. WSI is the first to provide aviation weather briefings via dial-up, called Pilotbrief
Expansion into aviation weather systems. WSI is the first to provide aviation weather briefings via dial-up, called Pilotbrief
December 1978
WSI is founded December 29, 1978 (WSI)
WSI is founded December 29, 1978 (WSI)
January 1974
Weather Central develops the first on-air weather system using computer graphics
Weather Central develops the first on-air weather system using computer graphics