With a deal between NBC Universal and The Weather Channel imminent, The New York Times’ Brian Stelter writes about what it may mean for NBCU’s digital weather channel NBC Weather Plus.
Weather Plus provides reports for MSNBC, as well as the Today show and Nightly News. It is also the branding for NBC’s O&Os and many NBC affiliates as well.
One of the challenges has been getting smaller market NBC affiliates to use the service. “Part of it is a relinquishing of some control, and that’s been a bit of a hard sell at times, said NBC News president Steve Capus. But with the added power of The Weather Channel, that may be an easier sell.
An NBC News insider tells TVNewser the network is excited at the prospect of adding The Weather Channel and like previous acquisitions including Telemundo and USA, a special in-house panel would be set up to iron our duplication, distribution and marketing details.
Another interesting note. WCBS in New York presents its on-air weather reports with The Weather Channel branding. If the NBCU deal comes to pass, that would most likely come to an end.
> Update: AgencySpy’s Matt Van Hoven is at the Advertising 2.0 panel for Internet Week right now, and is live blogging the happenings. The Weather Channel VP of advanced media Tom Flournoy is on the panel, and although he couldn’t “say anything” because it’s up for sale, there are potentially, “opportunities to combine the methods,” when it comes to The Weather Channel and NBC Weather Plus.