CNN And The Weather Channel: Complementary Channels?
Via TVDecoder
CNN And The Weather Channel: Complementary Channels?
By Brian Stelter
Casual cable viewers could occasionally be forgiven for confusing CNN with The Weather Channel.
CNN, the cable news network owned by Time Warner, promotes itself as a “Severe Weather Headquarters,” complete with a spiffy new weather center set and a row of respected meteorologists. More than its cable news competitors, it has tried to brand itself as an esteemed weather source.
So what would happen if Time Warner acquired The Weather Channel? It is known to be a bidder. Landmark Communications, the current owner, had hoped to fetch $5 billion for the channel and its popular Web site Weather.com, but recent media reports say that $3.5 billion is a more likely sales price.
Last week John Martin, the chief financial officer of Time Warner, said that a combination of CNN and The Weather Channel “would give us a very, very interesting cross-platform play,” though he emphasized the need for “price discipline” in the bidding. He said of a potential deal: “At a certain level it might make sense,” according to Reuters.
A group led by NBC Universal is also bidding; TV Decoder wrote last week about what an NBC/Weather combination could look like.
But what about this potential marriage?
>Read the rest at TVDecoder.
>Earlier: NBCU And Partners Bid $3.5 Billion For Weather Channel: Report
