DirecTV customers may have noticed something missing from their channel lineup this week and it wasn't by accident. The satellite service provider has pulled The Weather Channel from its lineup over claims that it is overrun with reality TV and not the only source of weather news.
In a statement on the matter, DirecTV said consumers understand there are now a variety of other ways to get weather coverage, free of reality show clutter, and that The Weather Channel does not have an exclusive on weather coverage - the weather belongs to everyone. They added that most consumers don't want to watch a weather information channel with a forecast of a 40 percent chance of reality TV.
The Weather Channel released a statement of their own, pointing out that they have been the most trusted resource for disseminating timely information to help prepare and protect families against weather-related emergencies for more than 30 years.
Smoke and mirrors aside, the real dispute between the two has to do with money. True enough, DirecTV added that they are in the process of discussing an agreement to return the network to their lineup at the right value for their customers.
Short of pulling all of the reality programming, "the right value" means more money.
In the interim, The Weather channel is urging viewers to demand that DirecTV bring back the network. To help their cause, the network has posted a video from meteorologist Jim Cantore where he explains the benefits of The Weather Channel.