WXforum.net

General Weather/Earth Sciences Topics => Weather in TV & Movies => Topic started by: SlowModem on January 21, 2012, 07:43:14 AM

Title: Weather Channel Tries Election Results Forecasting
Post by: SlowModem on January 21, 2012, 07:43:14 AM
Story here (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/south-carolina-primary-2012-_n_1199084.html#252_weather-channel-tries-its-hand-at-election-forecasting)

With election season in full swing, even news outlets that don't traditionally cover politics are trying to get a piece of the action.

The Weather Channel sent out a release Friday highlighting how a rainy forecast may impact voter turnout for Saturday's primary in South Carolina.

"According to SC voters on weather.com this week, 3.7 percent of voters would NOT go to the polls if it rains, and more than 5 percent would NOT go if there is heavy rain," the channel's vice president of weather analytics Paul Walsh said in the release. "This has potential to impact the outcome of the primary. We saw how close it was in Iowa – enough to recall the results. There’s a possibility this shift could favor Newt Gingrich, and perhaps even Ron Paul."

Apparently, the Weather Channel has found Mitt Romney's voters to be the most sensitive to adverse weather conditions.

Historically, though, there is evidence that bad weather can affect voter turnout. According to a 2006 study, Republicans are more likely to vote in stormy conditions than Democrats. The study also found that if the weather had been dry in Florida on November 7, 2000, Al Gore may have gained enough votes to beat George Bush and win the notoriously close presidential election.
Title: Re: Weather Channel Tries Election Results Forecasting
Post by: WeatherHost on January 21, 2012, 09:35:51 AM
Sorry, but 'The Weather Channel' no longer exists.

The former is now just another arm of NBC/Comcast.

Title: Re: Weather Channel Tries Election Results Forecasting
Post by: Farmtalk on January 21, 2012, 10:30:34 AM
I didnt actually know that they werent the true TWC, but i was suspicious of things when al roker magically popped on there....That is ridiculous that they would do that on a weather channel
Title: Re: Weather Channel Tries Election Results Forecasting
Post by: gadget_guy on January 22, 2012, 08:58:13 PM
It might even get worse.  Yahoo is looking to divest itself of the shares in Alibaba Group it ownes.  They are trying to structure a deal as a tax free swap.  The deal would involve Alibaba purchasing TWC from NBC/Universal/COMCAST, then swapping it for the 40% of the shares Yahoo owns. 

No comment on whether a deal is in the works for the sale of TWC.  If Yahoo does take ownership, I don't see anything good coming of it.
Title: Re: Weather Channel Tries Election Results Forecasting
Post by: Stetson1 on January 23, 2012, 11:16:11 AM
TWC hasn't been for real in a long time. They are getting to be like the history channel, little bit of history, lots of BS programming. TWC is just another left wing outlet that does a little weather now and then.
Title: Re: Weather Channel Tries Election Results Forecasting
Post by: Farmtalk on January 23, 2012, 04:12:35 PM
Yeah I wish instead of freaking out that NYC is getting an inch of snow, they would look at why weather phenomena occurs or something like that, TWC has really gone downhill lately, but i did appreciate them stopping the local on the 8s during severe outbreaks...I HATE local on the 8s.