Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group announced Wednesday, the introduction of The Weather Channel’s new subscription streaming service: The Weather Channel Plus. The new $4.99-per-month subscription service will feature more than 50 news and entertainment streaming channels for a launch in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Weather Channel Plus is projecting 30 million subscribers in its first five years.
An expectation of 30 million subscribers is pretty optimistic unless they will be offering some substantial channels at that price point. It is possible to piece together a strong and focused lineup of entertainment channels if a package chooses to avoid major cable news and sports channels. An example of such a case would be FRNDLY TV which offers multiple Hallmark channels along with family-centric programming for $5.99. The service in fact offers The Weather Channel in its 19 channel lineup. But it has not garnered 30 million subscribers just yet. Nor has any other Skinny bundle offer even come close. Despite this confidence springs from the namesake/Founder of Allen Media Group.
“The Weather Channel has been voted the most-trusted news brand in America for eleven consecutive years, and the fifth most-trusted brand in America overall, which makes it the perfect brand for a direct-to-consumer streaming platform,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “We’ve aggregated some of the best news and entertainment content while keeping it affordable and accessible at the same time. We are highly confident that consumers will enjoy The Weather Channel Plus streaming service for decades to come.”
Allen Media Group has not let on as to which channels will be available via the new service. But considering the price, we can’t imagine that it is paying out rights to many large conglomerates like Viacom, Warner Media and others. It should be noted that Allen Media group owns some TV channels outright and might well offer them through its service the listing below comprises their properties.
- Automotive.TV
- Cars.TV
- Comedy.TV
- ES.TV[29]
- MyDestination.TV
- Pets.TV
- Recipe.TV
- Justice Central
- Weather
- The Weather Channel
- Weatherscan
- Bally Sports (investor funding relationship)
Considering that this will be a streaming service, it is not out of reach to surmise that any TV channel that can be found via a free streaming service may also appear on the service. Considering Allen Media Group’s ownership of multiple broadcast channels one might expect to see them offered in local markets. In some markets, Allen Media group owns affiliates that broadcast Sinclair owned stations MeTV, Hawaii TV, Start TV, and Heroes & Icons. With an already established relationship with Sinclair it would not be a surprise to see such channels be offered through Weather Channel Plus.
Other OTA channels that have shown up in recent years via free apps or as part of other Internet TV offerings include Comet, BZZR, Newsmax, Americas Voice, TYT, DABL TV.
These kinds of channels are most likely what subscribers will find along with Internet-only offerings like CBSN, or other news sources that can be found elsewhere. If you want to get an even better guess take a look at what can be found on STIRR and XUMO. Just keep in mind those are free streaming options. Could Weather Channel Plus also include regional sports networks through Bally Sports? That like everything else remains to be seen.
Overall, the likelihood that a service at the announced price of $4.99 could compete and offer the kind of content found on Sling TV, Hulu With Live TV and YouTube TV is highly unlikely. Though to the less informed or even less patient consumer who does not want to bounce around too much in order to find something to watch it may prove appealing.
