Al Roker, NBCU and the Weather Channel
So, you probably heard that the NBC Universal empire will be expanding by one, once it has added The Weather Channel to its media outlets. On MSNBC this morning, the subs on Morning Joe were crowing about CEO Jeff Zucker, sucking up royally, and even hyping GE stock. It was all really uncomfortable, obvious and out of place when you are tuning in for news, politics, some pop culture and get NBCU corporate cheerleaders in full pom-pom mode.
Okay, enough ranting; there is some news to report. If the deal goes through -- and it will -- Today weatherman Al Roker may be relocating or he'll be repurposed, becoming the face of The Weather Channel.
That would mean Al could be all over the place -- Food Network, The Weather Channel and NBC!
I love Al Roker; really, I once ran into him at IKEA. And I've interviewed him; he's a very nice person, but do we really want him to be another Regis Philbin? Sure, he's a comfy, familiar face, but where's new talent?
On Sunday, Zucker did a phone interview with The New York Times and confirmed that talent from NBCU could be appearing on The Weather Channel, and vice versa, when the deal is done. Still, for the life of me, I can't name a single Weather Channel name that would be suited for Deal or No Deal or Heroes, can you?
It's more likely that The Weather Channel as it has been for the past 26 years is going to change -- dramatically. NBCU hasn't acquired it to keep it all weather, all the time. I may be cynical, but I have no faith in Zucker, don't buy into his success, and figure he's going to bastardize what was meant to be a service channel.

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