Dive summary:
- Tropical storms and hurricanes are named by the federal government, but The Weather Channel decides to name winter storms itself.
- The Weather Channel is deciding on its own what warrants a “name-worthy” winter storm.
- Whether The Weather Channel will allow competitors to use the names has yet to be determined.
From the article:
News is a business, and we as marketers get that. This business makes it possible for us to create and place advertisements and secure news coverage for our clients.
But in this situation, it appears The Weather Channel is driven more by creating a branded product, complete with fancy graphics, than in delivering weather news in the clearest, most commonly understood way, which is what The Weather Channel should stand for. Marketing is important for any business, but when it gets in the way of your mission, perhaps it goes too far.
