Litton Lines Up Stations For ‘Storm Stories’

Weather Channel Series Cleared In 70% Of The Nation

By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 2/3/2008 9:13:00 AM

The skies are clearing for Litton Entertainment as it brings Storm Stories to the syndication marketplace.

Through recent deals with WABC in New York, KPHO in Phoenix and WPXI in Pittsburgh, Litton said the series, which originated on The Weather Channel, has gained clearance in 70% of the nation. The series features raw footage of nature’s power unleashed and the drama of those who found themselves caught in its path.

Set to launch this fall, Litton has established customizable format options for the series 143 half hours in which  stations can insert local weather or news updates, or segments with The Weather Channel host Jim Cantore, three times over the course of the show.

Litton is also supplying stations with the "Storm Stories Production Handbook," which enables local broadcasters to localize the programming via a Web-based interface.

Litton president and CEO Dave Morgan said stations are picking up Storm Stories with an eye toward running it adjacent to their local newscasts.

“Their scheduling plans include lead-ins to morning news shows, early fringe and on the weekends,” he said. “The local live cut-ins allow stations to leverage one of their prime and most profitable resources, their local newscasts and weather segments.”

Morgan said the show, which continues to run on The Weather Channel, could see new life, depending on the response. “Mother Nature produces new episodes every day," he explained.

Chicago-based Tower Productions crafted the series for The Weather Channel.

In addition to the above-mentioned stations, Litton has gained clearances with KCAL/KCBS Los Angeles, WGN Chicago and KYW Philadelphia.

Litton, which recently inked a deal with Ion Networks for Baywatch, has scored Storm Stories syndication pacts with station groups owned by CBS, ABC, Tribune, Fox, Gannett, Cox Broadcasting, Hearst-Argyle Television, Media General, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Scripps.