Weather Channel Launches Show for Smartphones

By Jon Lafayette
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

The Weather Channel is launching a new morning show that will be available only on mobile devices.

The Lift debuts Oct. 15 and will be hosted by Al Roker, who will be joined by meteorologists Domenica Davis and Ari Sarsalari. The network cancelled the Today show weatherman's show on cable a few weeks ago.

The show will consist of six to eight clips focused on breaking weather news, nature stories, science items and viral videos. It will be accessible via the Weather Channel app.

“Last year, Weather’s digital platforms achieved 1.2 billion video views and 40% of those views were coming from mobile devices,” said Neil Katz, editor-in-chief and VP of digital content, The Weather Company. “There is a dedicated fan base for The Weather Channel’s morning television lineup, but we also know millions of people begin their days on the Weather app. The Lift will allow those users to get the most important weather news of the day and plan their days all in one place.”

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.