The Weather Channel launched in 1982 to provide cable weather, documentaries, and entertainment. Forty years later, it’s entering the streaming era.
Weather Channel zealots who have cut their cords will be pleased to know that you can now pay $2.99 for a live stream of The Weather Channel, accessible via connected TVs or its app. (You can also provide cable credentials to gain access to the service.) Maps and maps and maps galore! It’s currently available on Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. Soon it will come to Xfinity Flex, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
“This is a huge step for The Weather Channel television network, as we expand access to our best-in-class weather news and entertainment content,” says Byron Allen of the Allen Media Group, the current parent company of The Weather Channel. “Our upgraded app allows subscribers to tailor their TV viewing experience to their location and needs.”
Allen adds that the new app experience is launching just in time for Atlantic Hurricane season, allowing emergency weather info to be available for anyone who wants it around the clock.
Weather however you want it
— The Weather Channel isn’t the only weather service adapting its content. Fox Corp. launched a weather service called Fox Weather last fall, which is free for users and supported by ads.
If you’re not ready to fork over a few dollars a month, you can use the many free weather alternatives like Weather Nation or your local news channel. If you pay taxes in the U.S., you’re funding the National Weather Service by doing so; you might as well take a peek at the hordes of public data the organization provides.
If you’re nostalgic for the aesthetic of the early days of The Weather Channel, take a look at the WS4000 simulator, which puts live weather data in a 90s-style graphic.
