No "Local on the 8s" on Weather Channel- AT&T needs to get this resolved with the Weather Channel

[AddWeatherChann…]

No "Local on the 8s" on Weather Channel- The Response from the Weather Channel is below.

ATT-Uverse does not carry "Local on the 8s" on the Weather Channel. I contacted the Weather Channel to ask if it was possible. Their reply follows:

Thank you for contacting The Weather Channel Interactive.

AT&T U-verse is a wired system, just like cable, except that it uses phone lines to deliver the signal. Currently, AT&T U-verse subscribers will get what amounts to our direct broadcast feed; basically, a series of current
conditions and forecast products for the forty-five largest television markets, as well as regional radar and satellite depictions for the nation.

AT&T U-Verse has the capability to deliver local if they choose to do so. They just have to get IntelliStar computer units. AT&T U-verse has never signed an I-Star agreement with The Weather Channel; therefore their subscribers will not receive a local forecast experience on the eights of the
hour. (The I-STAR or WEATHER STAR computer is the piece of equipment that provides

our cable affiliates with a local weather product on the eights of the hour, as well as on the weather strip along the bottom of the screen.)
In the best interest of their subscribers, The Weather Channel would like to see them add these I-STAR units, and we are more than willing to work with them on
it, but the decision is entirely theirs. Our advice would be to contact AT&T U-Verse, who is usually very responsive to their customers, and let them know that you would like to see them provide 

local weather experience on the
eights of the hour.

We are always happy to hear from our viewers and hope you will continue to watch The Weather Channel for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Chris Hoitsma
Solutions Center/TWC

I would like to know why AT&T Uverse is not willing to work with the Weather Channel to provide this to their customers. Every other major cable company does

I would not have switched to AT&T uverse had I known this was not going to be available

AT&T has to get the I-STAR or WEATHER STAR computer is the piece of equipment that provides our cable affiliates with a local weather product on the eights of the hour

AT&T has not been willing to do that according to the weather channel

That in my opinion is not acceptable if every other cable company is offering it

I would like an explanation from someone higher up in the company as to why AT&T will not invest in this for their customers and be competitive

We have had storms in our area all night and I have not been able to watch a radar in our area at all now that I have AT&T Uverse. It is giving me a radar in Chicago and I live in Georgia. That doesn't do me much good. 

It also no longer gives us weather warnings in our area as our previous cable company did.

This is a huge safety issue for consumers now.

Our cable would be interrupted with our previous cable provider  with a warning and now it does nothing nor can we see a local radar.

If you would forward our conversation to an appropriate manager or area that would try to give me some type of answer that would be greatly appreciated.

The weather Channel is clearly willing to work with AT&T but it doesn't appear that AT&T has been very receptive up to this point.

Don't worry, let me go ahead and escalate this one to our management and hopefully we can have some updates regarding on this one.

It is a safety issue and AT&T as large as they are need to invest in this equipment if they intend to keep customers. I will not stay with uverse if they do not do it. If the small hometown cable companies can afford it AT&T certainly can.

[mibrnsurg ACE - Geek]

Probably will never happen as ATT has told The Weather Channel to pay for and install all necessary equipment and they have refused.

That is why they went w/Weather On Demand, channel 227.  This has been discussed here ad nauseum.

Chris

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Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-866-465-1496 for direct TS to avoid Mr. Voice recognition
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

[bedwards_1]

Did you check out the UN of this OPW??? LOL

[skeeterintexas]

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bedwards_1 wrote:

Did you check out the UN of this OPW??? LOL

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Yeah, I thought "Wow...username like that...someone REALLLLLY misses LOT8s" but then I realized there might (probably is) an ulterior motive. 

[michail77]

A really impressive response from the Weather Channel non the less.

[CTEL08]

ACCUWEATHER > LOCALS ON THE 8S

NBC WEATHER PLUS > LOCALS ON THE 8S

[randyl]

"In the best interest of their subscribers, The Weather Channel would like to see them add these I-STAR units, and we are more than willing to work with them on
it, but the decision is entirely theirs. Our advice would be to contact AT&T U-Verse, who is usually very responsive to their customers, and let them know that you would like to see them provide 

local weather experience on the
eights of the hour. "

welp they (lol8) should supply the equipment then !!

:_P)

[AddWeatherChann…]

Hey no hidden motives behind the user name.  I had never been on the site before and after speaking with an AT&T Rep for about 2 hours online trying to get answers she referred me to a channel survey which didn't exist.  I found the message board so I decided to post this information hoping that someone with AT&T Uverse would see it and realize that it is their responsibility as a Cable Provider to purchase the equipment from The Weather Channel like every other cable provider does to bring the local on the 8's.

Yes I really miss it especially on days like yesterday when it was storming and we were under Severe Storm warnings and watches.  It frustrates me that a company as large as AT&T isn't wiling to spend the extra money for the safety and to satisfy their customers.

I have written letters made phone calls and have not been able to get anywhere but as you see above The Weather Channel is happy to provide this service to AT&T Uverse just as soon as they purchase the

 (The I-STAR or WEATHER STAR computer is the piece of equipment that provides

our cable affiliates with a local weather product on the eights of the hour).

Hopefully if they get enough responses or feedback from customers then they might seriously look into purchasing this. This is clearly a safety feature first and foremost for their customers and they should look at it like that and take action quickly.  

[michail77]

There is a weather app channel 227, that in theory is a good replacement.  Don't see why it couldn't some day also include a local VOD from TWC.  However, it's really the same information, only you get to decide when to bring it up.

I got used to the national feed on DirecTV.

In the end TWC is going to want money from AT&T and AT&T doesn't want to spring for it since they have similar features available .

[oufanindallas]

I've always found that our local weather does a better job that anything the weather channel attempts to do.  When we have sever weather in DFW, our local CBS will have continuous weather until all threats in the viewing area have passed.  Much better than LOT8S.

[AddWeatherChann…]

I have been to 227 and it isn't anything like the local on the 8's that The Weather Channel previously fed to my Cable Company.  We would get warnings and watches sent through the bottom of the screen on a continuous scroll.  It would also give a very local radar and not just a radar of the state and you can't even tell where  your particular county is.  Channel 227 isn't even a close replacement in my opinion but everyone has different opinions I know.

I just don't understand why AT&T  can't spend the money to provide the service as large of a corporation as they are when very small Cable Companies have it that are not bringing in near the revenue as AT&T.  

It makes no sense.

[michail77]

Yup, I say embrace some change  There are plenty of options out there from the Internet, the locals, etc.

When the cable companies originally adopted TWC's local weather there really were not many other options available back then.  Now I can zoom in with an iPad as see the rain drops hit my house. 

I'm not sure where TWC is located in the guide but the weather app could be placed in an adjacent channel if it is not already. 

[Dead_Terrorist]

Ah.. it does if you know the logistics behind it.  UV equipment is sometimes (if not most) co-located in the same buildings as AT&T's telephone equipment. Now, if you are one of the largest Telecommunications companies in the world, have tons of contracts with the US Gov't., would you allow outsiders into the aforementioned building where the telephone equipment is?  I wouldn't.  Can you imagine what would happen if (and I am not saying anyone would) but what if someone outside of AT&T had some imagined beef with either AT&T or the Gov't. ?  The havoc they could potentially cause, would give any company a reason simply not allow it.

As many have mentioned on the numerous posts, LOTS 8 requires their equipment to be located in these buildings (otherwise it wouldn't be local would it?)  This is just my un-educated guess, but I would imagine there are some security concerns here.

[bedwards_1]

I guess I'm not old enough YET to be obsessed with the weather every 8 minutes, thank GOD!! LOL I used to have it when I was with TWC, and the OP later posted, you would get a crawl with the weather...annoyed me to no end!! I couldn't stand it. I am not going to say I want it, because I don't. Too many other options out there...open door....look out... Hahahaha

[AddWeatherChann…]

With all due respect I am not OBSESSED with The Weather Channel or TLOT8's nor am I old.  When you do not have computer access and there is bad weather in your area you appreciate being able to turn it on.  There is a big difference in being obsessed and watching a screen scroll for the heck of it or using it for a purpose such as trying to make plans to cancel an event outside like sports events etc or listen out or watch out for bad weather. If you have ever been through a tornado or lived in a tornado prone area you might understand a little more what I am talking about.    

Everyone has different preferences and different likes in the world. If they didn't we would all live in the same style house and have the same style cars.  I am sure I am not alone in saying that I do like the features of the local on the 8's and as an AT&T consumer I am just trying  and anyone else would that didn't have a channel that they wanted and carry the features.

[mibrnsurg ACE - Geek]

Turn the radio on and listen, if it's severe, at least one station will be broadcasting weather info.  And if the power went out in this bad weather, your TV would be dead and no LOT8s anyways.

Chris

---

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-866-465-1496 for direct TS to avoid Mr. Voice recognition
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

[AddWeatherChann…]

Wow Really?  Some people just don't get it.  I thought I might possible make progress trying to get something that I personally like and prefer accomplished on this blog.  I guess it is more for people that have nothing better to do with their life then  to sit and poke fun or write rude comments and be sarcastic.  If you don't want it... then don't watch it and you don't have to comment.  I really didn't post this to get rude, sarcastic comments. I wrote it i trying to obtain a goal of a legitimate concern and issue that I personally had hoping to reach AT&T directly.   Guess that just shows what kind of world that we live in now.  Treat others with sarcasm.  Honestly this blog is pointless and the AT&T Rep that suggested it didnt' know what she was talking about either that AT&T Uverse employees monitor it and take the concerns into consideration.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

I don't think most of the comments here are rude or sarcastic.  Most of them are actually trying to point out alternatives that you might find work (or at least suffice) until such time as LOT8s is available or another substitute that you like just as well is available.

All of us are customers, not AT&T reps, employees, or anything else, and as such, we have no power.  I sympathize with you and anyone else who wants a particular service that U-Verse doesn't have at this time, but ultimately, we can't really do anything about it other than try to assist you in working around the limitation.

By the way, this isn't a "blog".  This is a threaded discussion forum.  There is a large difference.

[TexasEd]

I don't think folks are being rude or sarcastic -- it just reflects our frustration on a topic which, as Chris pointed out earlier, has been discussed ad nauseum here.  Many of us have expressed a desire for the Local on the 8's, but, as you have read, it doesn't appear to be a realistic hope at the moment.  If you do a search for the topic, you'll see lots of discussion.  

[michail77]

I'll agree the radar on the weather app leaves a lot to be desired.

However, IPTV technology has a lot of potential to improve upon customized local content like this. Instead of equipment at the head office the STB should be able to stream custom content.  I just don't think we're there yet.

[TexasEd]

Good point!  The AccuWeather app on the iPad, for example, is pretty neat!

[michail77]

Weatherbug also goes crazy during alerts.  The last time a hurricane came by I had to turn it off. 

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

I don't think most of the comments here are rude or sarcastic.  Most of them are actually trying to point out alternatives that you might find work (or at least suffice) until such time as LOT8s is available or another substitute that you like just as well is available.

All of us are customers, not AT&T reps, employees, or anything else, and as such, we have no power.  I sympathize with you and anyone else who wants a particular service that U-Verse doesn't have at this time, but ultimately, we can't really do anything about it other than try to assist you in working around the limitation.

By the way, this isn't a "blog".  This is a threaded discussion forum.  There is a large difference.

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Good points, SJ.  The posts may not be rude but there is plenty of sarcasm to go around on most if not all the LOT8 threads over the past few years.  Sarcasm followed by more of the same can seem like rudeness.  "Turn your computer on....," "look out the front door," "The weather app (227) is all that we need" and so on. LOT8's is a polarizing topic - folks either want it or they don't.  Count me in the "want it" camp.  I'd be willing to bet that if a survey was done amongst a fair sample of UV subscribers (and not just U-Talkers) it would be about fifty/fifty (educated guess).  Fifty percent of 2 million is a fair number.  Maybe AT&T could work with TWC and develop a way of plugging in ads to offset the cost.

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

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michail77 wrote:

I'll agree the radar on the weather app leaves a lot to be desired.

However, IPTV technology has a lot of potential to improve upon customized local content like this. Instead of equipment at the head office the STB should be able to stream custom content.  I just don't think we're there yet.

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Apps or widgets are out there that are much better than 227.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  IMO, AT&T does not have much will when it comes to finding a good way of presenting the weather.

[milkman]

Addweatherchannel wrote:

With all due respect I am not OBSESSED with The Weather Channel or TLOT8's nor am I old.  When you do not have computer access and there is bad weather in your area you appreciate being able to turn it on.  There is a big difference in being obsessed and watching a screen scroll for the heck of it or using it for a purpose such as trying to make plans to cancel an event outside like sports events etc or listen out or watch out for bad weather. If you have ever been through a tornado or lived in a tornado prone area you might understand a little more what I am talking about.    

Everyone has different preferences and different likes in the world. If they didn't we would all live in the same style house and have the same style cars.  I am sure I am not alone in saying that I do like the features of the local on the 8's and as an AT&T consumer I am just trying  and anyone else would that didn't have a channel that they wanted and carry the features.

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I strongly suggest a weather alert radio. It's a must for any area that has severe weather. The same alerts that your local TV stations get are received by this radio.They are sent from your closest NOAA Weather station. It can be set to receive only your immediate area. No "false" alerts for neighboring areas.  For me, it's as important as a smoke detector. Here's some info from Radio Shack:http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036228

You can also get your daily/hourly forecast from this radio. All weather 24/7.

[michail77]

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dhascall wrote:

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

I don't think most of the comments here are rude or sarcastic.  Most of them are actually trying to point out alternatives that you might find work (or at least suffice) until such time as LOT8s is available or another substitute that you like just as well is available.

All of us are customers, not AT&T reps, employees, or anything else, and as such, we have no power.  I sympathize with you and anyone else who wants a particular service that U-Verse doesn't have at this time, but ultimately, we can't really do anything about it other than try to assist you in working around the limitation.

By the way, this isn't a "blog".  This is a threaded discussion forum.  There is a large difference.

---

Good points, SJ.  The posts may not be rude but there is plenty of sarcasm to go around on most if not all the LOT8 threads over the past few years.  Sarcasm followed by more of the same can seem like rudeness.  "Turn your computer on....," "look out the front door," "The weather app (227) is all that we need" and so on. LOT8's is a polarizing topic - folks either want it or they don't.  Count me in the "want it" camp.  I'd be willing to bet that if a survey was done amongst a fair sample of UV subscribers (and not just U-Talkers) it would be about fifty/fifty (educated guess).  Fifty percent of 2 million is a fair number.  Maybe AT&T could work with TWC and develop a way of plugging in ads to offset the cost.

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I'd want it too but I'd bet the STB could pull it directly rather than needing the extra equipment deployed to the local video offices.  LOT8 is outdated technology.

Also, if something really bad is going on TWC covers it on the national level.

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

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michail77 wrote:

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dhascall wrote:

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

I don't think most of the comments here are rude or sarcastic.  Most of them are actually trying to point out alternatives that you might find work (or at least suffice) until such time as LOT8s is available or another substitute that you like just as well is available.

All of us are customers, not AT&T reps, employees, or anything else, and as such, we have no power.  I sympathize with you and anyone else who wants a particular service that U-Verse doesn't have at this time, but ultimately, we can't really do anything about it other than try to assist you in working around the limitation.

By the way, this isn't a "blog".  This is a threaded discussion forum.  There is a large difference.

---

Good points, SJ.  The posts may not be rude but there is plenty of sarcasm to go around on most if not all the LOT8 threads over the past few years.  Sarcasm followed by more of the same can seem like rudeness.  "Turn your computer on....," "look out the front door," "The weather app (227) is all that we need" and so on. LOT8's is a polarizing topic - folks either want it or they don't.  Count me in the "want it" camp.  I'd be willing to bet that if a survey was done amongst a fair sample of UV subscribers (and not just U-Talkers) it would be about fifty/fifty (educated guess).  Fifty percent of 2 million is a fair number.  Maybe AT&T could work with TWC and develop a way of plugging in ads to offset the cost.

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I'd want it too but I'd bet the STB could pull it directly rather than needing the extra equipment deployed to the local video offices.  LOT8 is outdated technology.

Also, if something really bad is going on TWC covers it on the national level.

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Absolutely!  Verizon FIoS has widgets why not UV?  Can they call themselves "Advanced TV without them?  LOL.

[michail77]

How does the widget differ from the apps?  I think fios uses the same Mediaroom OS that uverse does.

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

I'm not sure but my guess (and only a guess) is that an app would be something that you can call up by popping in a channel number and a widget would be something called up by some other means.  SO, Government and Local Programming, Yahoo Games and the Weather App seem like apps and MediaShare is more like a widget.  Again, just my guess.

[mibrnsurg ACE - Geek]

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michail77 wrote:

How does the widget differ from the apps?  I think fios uses the same Mediaroom OS that uverse does.

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A widget is an app.  From Netlingo.com:

a.k.a. gadget

A "widget" is an application that sits on top of a Web site and offers users additional interactive features. There are thousands of kinds of widgets! Popular widgets (Google calls them "gadgets") include photo slide shows, videos, music playlists, post-it notes, horoscopes, and virtual pets that can be fed and dressed. Widgets are normally added to social networking profiles, blogs, or Web sites.

The main types are (1) a widget engine (such as dashboard apps like Apple's Mac OS X v10.4, Windows Vista Sidebar, or Yahoo! Widgets), (2) GUI widgets (which are a component of a graphical user interface in which the user interacts), (3) Web widgets (which refer to a third party item that can be embedded in a Web page), and (4) mobile widgets (a third party item that can be embedded in a mobile phone).

In some cases, widgets are created and customized on another site (such as Slide or Photobucket). The site generates a string of software code to be copied and pasted onto your page. Some social networking sites and widgets are becoming more closely integrated, requiring only a click of a button that tells the two Web sites to work together (see also: API).

Technically speaking, in the traditional sense a "widget" is a placeholder name for an object or a manufactured device. On the Internet, a widget refers to an interface element that a computer user interacts with, such as a window or a text box. As opposed to a physical widget in the real world, Internet widgets are virtual in the sense that they have virtual buttons that can be clicked with a mouse cursor (versus physical buttons that can be pressed with a finger). Widgets are usually packaged together in widget toolkits, and can be used on several Web sites.

Chris

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Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-866-465-1496 for direct TS to avoid Mr. Voice recognition
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more