After purchasing the Weather Channel in July, NBC Universal is ceasing production at Weather Plus, its four-year-old digital venture with local affiliate stations.
NBC and the NBC Television Affiliates Association Board unanimously approved the decision last week to dissolve the service. Ten NBC O&Os and 80 affiliates currently use Weather Plus on digital channels.
“NBC Universal’s purchase of The Weather Channel, coupled with the ongoing financial and distribution challenges facing Weather Plus, made the venture no longer feasible,” NBC Universal said in a statement. “As was the world’s first all-digital broadcast network, Weather Plus will no doubt pave the way for the future of digital broadcasting, and we are proud of all we accomplished with this unique property. On the air and behind the scenes, the staff has shown tremendous dedication and professionalism, and we would like to thank them for all their efforts.”
Weather Plus was designed to generate new revenue streams for NBC and its affiliate stations. However, it faced economic difficulty from the beginning, and the network’s purchase of the Weather Channel in July sealed its fate.
