Local On The 8s - Weather Star Systems

Weather Star Systems

As of 2008, the majority of cable operators use the IntelliStar, the latest STAR system. The IntelliStar platform can also generate graphics for Weatherscan, The Weather Channel's 24-hour localized weather network. With an IntelliStar, cable viewers see current weather conditions for their area, surrounding areas, and their region; 36-hour, daypart, and 7-day forecasts; almanacs; air quality and health reports; specialized school day and activity forecast; in coastal areas, tides and marine forecasts; and, in certain large media markets, traffic conditions supplied by Traffic Pulse (which gathers the information in real time from intelligent transportation systems operated by state departments of transportation).

The IntelliStar is not the only type of STAR in operation. Three other STAR systems are used sporadically. The Weather Star 4000 is the oldest and the first in the series that produces graphical local forecasts and radar. The Weather Star Jr is a budget model introduced in 1994 that was very uncommon from its introduction. It is similar to the now-discontinued Weather Star III in terms of products and appearance, but uses the typeface of the 4000.

The Weather Star XL, introduced in the fall of 1998, is an IRIX-based machine, a major leap from 4000s in terms of capabilities and graphic generation. It was used for Weatherscan until 2003 (the first use of the IntelliStar was on Weatherscan that year).

As satellite television is broadcast to a large area, this localized weather model must be adapted for its viewers. The satellite forecast segment includes hourly forecasts for 20 major cities, three-day forecasts for 40 U.S. cities, satellite loops and composite radars of the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest, and Southwest, respectively. At :18 and :48 after the hour, the Northwest and Southwest satellite/radars are replaced by one showing the entire West. IntelliStars are hooked up at both DirecTV's and Dish Network's primary uplink sites, but they run a different lower display line graphic at all times even during television commercials. This cycles through current conditions (sky and temperature only) and today or next-day forecasts for major U.S. cities, as well as major airport delays. As of November 8, 2006, Dish Network viewers are now able to view local weather conditions and radar on The Weather Channel on DISH HOME Channel 100, based on their billing ZIP code, along with access to weather in other cities. DirecTV viewers can get local forecasts by zip code, which works through the "interactive" function of later receiver models.

Although IPTV services are wired services (in a similar vein to cable television), allowing for the use of WeatherStar systems, AT&T U-verse also does not provide localized forecasts through the aid of an IntelliStar computer system (AT&T U-verse does provide a dedicated Weather on Demand channel with forecasts provided by AccuWeather); as such, U-verse subscribers also see the satellite forecast segment during the "Local on the 8s" segments. Verizon FiOS subscribers receive IntelliStar-delivered local forecasts on The Weather Channel's standard definition feed.

It is noted that during The Weather Channel's "Storm Alert" mode (introduced in 2005), specifically when a dangerous hurricane prepares to make landfall, the number of local forecasts seen throughout the hour is reduced from six times to four - :18 past the hour, :28 past the hour, :48 past the hour, :58 past the hour.