Whats up with the newer Weather Channel shows like "Lifeguard" and the one where a guy climbs to places to take pictures??? Not seeing much "Weather" in the Weather Channel anymore 
It's all about ratings, Joe. If they could get away with 24/7 local on the 8's (of course then it wouldn't be local on the 8's anymore 
) and still pull in the same numbers they would.
Advertisers pay the bills and the hardcore "weather junkie" style programming that we all would rather see just doesn't appeal to the average viewer.
I disagree with this vehemently. The Weather Channel's ratings do not come from entertainment programming or even news programming. The folks at the Weather Channel knew what they were doing 20 years ago when every segment had a little logo in the corner of the people who were sponsoring it because those sponsors understood the Weather Channel is a "flip on/flip off" station. (That sounded bad, but that wasn't my intention.)
You don't tune into the Weather Channel to watch television, you tune in if you are about to leave for the day and want to see if it is going to rain. You tune it in if you have a round of gold scheduled and you know the outdoor forecast is on at 15 past the hour. You tune in if you hear thunder and the clouds are looking ominous.
Heck, in the apartment complex I used to live in, there was a golf course right next door. When you went into their club house, the first thing you would see is a big screen television tuned into the Weather Channel, and a sign that said "please do not turn television."
Advertisements sell on the Weather Channel not because they expect huge ratings, but because they know that just about everyone will flip on the Weather Channel at some point during the day, and you want to know what demographics are most likely to be on it at what time of the day.
There's a reason that the travel guide that used to air at 20 past the hour would be sponsored by Michelin (because it was expected to be watched by folks about to be doing a lengthy travel session and if they are thinking about new tires...)
They are completely stupid to think anybody, especially with everything else there is on cable, is going to give two royal rat's rear ends about lifeguards or a guy taking weather pictures or storm stories or whatever other ideas they have desperately trying to become the new MSNBC.
What they need is simply what they used to have...five minute segments of an OCM in front of a map giving the weather and then special reports when there is something major going on. NOTHING else. To try anything else beyond that (even Wake Up with Al and all of that nonsense) is an act of foolishness that is spectacular even for the morons that work as television executives.
