The Weather Channel (TWC) today announced the expansion of Forecast Earth, the network’s weekly program on climate change, to a full hour. The show, which airs Saturdays at 5 p.m. ET and is a part of the company’s multi platform climate initiative, has also added journalist Natalie Allen as its new anchor along with several new regular contributors. Forecast Earth online has also undergone an expansion, including the addition of columnist Don Wilmott, a content partnership with LifeWire focusing on sustainability and a new “Green Box” video player.
“Doubling in length to a full hour each week will enable Forecast Earth to delve deeper into the issues surrounding climate change, while giving viewers perspective on how to easily make green living part of their daily routines,” said Kaye Zusmann, VP of programming strategy and development for The Weather Channel. Features scheduled for January episodes include a profile of the Philadelphia Eagles, the greenest team in pro sports; a story on the green evangelical movement; and a feature on how climate change is impacting winter sports.
Heidi Cullen will continue as the scientific expert reporting on issues of climate change for The Weather Channel while also taking a position with Climate Central at Princeton University. This newly formed, non profit, non partisan organization is dedicated to providing the public as well as policy makers with the latest peer-reviewed information on global climate change. This dual role of being in academia as well as contributing to Forecast Earth will help Dr. Cullen be an even greater asset to The Weather Channel. Audiences will learn about and benefit from Dr. Cullen’s work at Climate Central, giving them direct access to the latest insights from the academic and scientific communities working on climate change. Climate Central is a non profit organization based in Princeton, NJ, with another bureau opening near Stanford University this year.
Natalie Allen joins Forecast Earth as an anchor and field reporter, reporting on the big stories impacting climate change and green solutions. She brings more than 23 years of award winning broadcast journalism experience, including nine years behind the anchor desk at CNN as well serving as a correspondent, producer, and writer. For Forecast Earth, her first work will include profiles of environmental scientist and broadcaster David Suzuki, green leader Van Jones, and Philadelphia Eagles’ owner Christina Lurie.
Joining Dr. Cullen as regular Forecast Earth contributors in 2008 will be Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Dr. Bill Nye, both of whom go beyond science to engage viewers and provide entertaining and informative segments. Dr. Eriksen joins Forecast Earth having been a regular contributor on The Weather Channel with his Commando Weather segments. He is known for doing anything in the name of teaching science, including using himself as a human guinea pig in some incredible scenarios, such as standing knee deep in a landfill, crawling through a storm drain or diving through ocean pollution.
Bill Nye, also known as “The Science Guy,” is a recent TWC addition, hosting a Climate Quiz during the popular evening program Abrams & Bettes - Beyond the Forecast. In this feature Dr. Nye asks questions about everyday situations in our homes and lives that can impact our world and plans to bring this sensibility to his features on Forecast Earth.
Last year, The Weather Channel launched www.weather.com/forecastearth, an interactive, broadband site dedicated to creating open dialogue regarding the important issues surrounding climate change. The Forecast Earth site is rich with interactive content including constantly updated blogs with guest bloggers, celebrity videos on green living topics from GLiving, breaking news, links to scientific resources and household tips. Recently, the site added the Forecast Earth Temperature Index, which tracks average daily temperatures for 50 U.S. cities. Regular contributors to Forecast Earth include Don Wilmott, along with bloggers from ScienceBlogs, the largest online community dedicated to science.
About Forecast Earth
A leader in the area of climate change and the environment, The Weather Channel airs Forecast Earth: This Week, an original weekly program where climate news meets green living. The one-hour program airs Saturday at 5:00 p.m. ET, with a re-airing on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. The television show and its Web site enable viewers to become even more knowledgeable about environmental issues and what they can do to make a difference. A broadcast journalist for 23 years, Natalie Allen will anchor and report from the field. The show’s climate expert, Dr. Heidi Cullen, has been with The Weather Channel since 2003 and has the key responsibility of adding explanation, depth and perspective to climate stories. For more information, visit www.weather.com/forecastearth.
About The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel, a 24-hour weather network, is seen in more than 96 million U.S. households. Its Web site, weather.com, reaches more than 35 million unique users per month. Its content is currently among the top 15 most popular in the U.S. by Nielsen//NetRatings. The Weather Channel also operates Weatherscan, a 24-hour, all-local weather network available to 22 million households; The Weather Channel HD; The Weather Channel Radio Network; and The Weather Channel Newspaper Services. It is also the leading weather information provider for emerging technologies. This includes broadband and interactive television applications and wireless weather products accessible through high-speed Internet services, phones and mobile devices. The Weather Channel is owned by Landmark Communications, Inc., a Norfolk, VA-based, privately held media company.