I was distressed to read the short paragraph recently in ShopTalk regarding WSI and Time Warner Cable's proposed joint venture. If I understand this news correctly, WSI---the company which provides meteorological hardware, software, imagery and data to me and my station---will also provide the same (plus on-camera talent) to Time Warner Cable. And, the "Time Warner Local Weather Service" would compete directly with my services.

It's one thing for WSI to supply equipment and data to another local news operation besides mine (I don't think their services are market-exclusive), but to propose this 24-hour alternative to your favorite local meteorologist seems a bit too far-reaching to me.

Also, my new remote control for my Time Warner set-top box has a special button marked "Weather". A viewer no longer needs to agonize over which station he or she prefers to see the forecast: Time Warner will select it for you---their own!

Does anyone else see the huge conflict of interest problem this raises, or am I just whining about some good ol' American-style competition?

Steve Swienckowski
Meteorologist/Agent