NBC Launches Weather Plus

NBC Universal launched its NBC Weather Plus digital weather network in New York and said NBC affiliates in 15 additional markets would launch local versions of the channel within 90 days.

The network consists mainly of automated radar images and graphics that display local weather forecasts. Local NBC weathercasters will also provide at least one live weather update hourly from 4 a.m.-11 p.m., NBC spokesman Mike Doyle said.

The only cable affiliate that NBC announced is carrying Weather Plus is Time Warner Cable’s New York City division.

NBC said it will launch local versions of NBC Weather Plus in Orlando, Fla.; Sacramento, Calif.; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Seattle; Charlotte, N.C.; Detroit; Houston; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Washington, D.C.; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; Chicago; and Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Additional markets will launch Weather Plus in 2005, the company said.

Multichannel News first reported the launch of NBC Weather Plus Nov. 4.