AccuWeather Interactive Channel Enters TV Front

By Karen Brown -- Multichannel News, 5/3/2006 4:52:00 PM

AccuWeather Inc. has TV in its forecast, unveiling a new on-demand television channel for cable and Internet-protocol-TV subscribers that will feature interactive real-time local forecasts and weather information.

Part of ICTV Inc.’s “ActiveVideo Distribution Network,” the AccuWeather channel delivers Web-driven programming, on-demand streams and live content as MPEG video over the operator’s existing on-demand infrastructure to any digital set-top box.

It will offer content ranging from searchable local forecasts and animated satellite-generated weather maps to local television weather broadcast programming.

The channel will also allow TV-service providers, programmers and advertisers to transfer broadband-video programming and advertising models from the Internet to the television, including targeted ads, according to AccuWeather.

"Viewers prefer to have immediate access to and control over the weather information they need, rather than waiting for periodic updates," AccuWeather senior vice president of new media Jim Candor said. "As an ActiveVideo Distribution Network programming partner, we are providing for the first time viewer-controlled access on television to AccuWeather's complete, worldwide base of information and news reports.”