Published: October 07, 2006
The Weather Channel Launches One Degree; Dedicated to Global Warming
Web Destination Provides In-Depth Exploration and Dialogue Surrounding the Impact of Climate Change; Company Releases Inaugural Survey Results on Global Warming
The Weather Channel Interactive launched its first broadband channel, One Degree, www.weather.com/onedegree, focusing on creating a national dialogue around and humanizing the impact of global climate change, commonly referred to as global warming. The channel's name is a reference to the one degree of warming that has occurred in the last century and the fact that what seems small - just one degree - can make a big difference in the climate and in people's lives.
Climate change is a topic on the minds of most Americans, as evidenced by a September 2006 climate change survey, commissioned by The Weather Channel to mark the launch of One Degree.
Survey results indicate that 85% of Americans are aware of and have an opinion surrounding global warming and random weather cycles. 44% of those surveyed attribute 2006 summer record temperatures to global warming; while 41% believe the heat was a result of a random weather cycle. The statistical dead heat supports the importance of One Degree, a dedicated source for accessible information and discussion surrounding climate change.
One Degree is a video-centric, interactive web experience presenting both general information and bringing into focus how climate change is affecting people's daily lives. One Degree is a part of an overall initiative at The Weather Channel called Climate Watch, which also includes The Climate Code with Dr. Heidi Cullen, a new weekly program airing Sundays at 5pm.
One Degree Features Rich Content and Deep Expertise Constantly updated with new content, One Degree is designed to present the issues and open a dialogue around a wide range of climate-related topics with and amongst climate experts, consumers, guest bloggers and experts from The Weather Channel. Of note, One Degree will feature Dr. Heidi Cullen, renowned climatologist, providing reports about environment-related topics.
"As a trusted resource for scientific data and a mainstream media outlet, we're uniquely positioned to become a bank for climate change information and expert commentary," explains Dr. Cullen.
One Degree video content will be a mix of original content developed exclusively for the site and content from The Weather Channel network. Initial original video programming focuses on the 7-year-long Nebraska drought and its impact on the rest of America. Future features will be dedicated to looking closely at the confusion surrounding climate change and what some in the US are doing to attack the problem. One Degree will also feature regular guest bloggers who are involved in global climate change research, as well as those that are responding to global warming challenges.
At launch, perspectives will be found from influential scientists, authors and educators such as Michael E. Mann, Associate Professor, Director, Earth System Science Center; Dr. Caspar M. Ammann, National Center for Atmospheric Research; Spencer Weart, author of The Discovery of Global Warming; Charles Wohlforth, author of The Whale and the Supercomputer and Dr. C. Ronald Carroll, Professor, Institute of Ecology and Co-Director, River Basin Science and Policy Center, University of Georgia.
One Degree Enables Dialogue Surrounding Climate Change and Green Issues The interactivity and community aspects of the broadband channel will enable users to educate themselves and participate in the climate change debate.
"One Degree will be a place where the average person can take a look at the impact climate change is having on our planet and individual's lives," said Matthew de Ganon, vice president broadband and consumer applications. "Along with telling these stories through our video content, we can also allow the nation to have a meaningful, accessible exchange of information, ideas and opinions relating to this very important topic."
For more information:
Senior Manager, Public Relations
David Blumenthal
dblumenthal@weather.com
Dana Mark
404-214-0722 x113
dmark@trevelinokeller.com
Interactive The Weather Channel Interactive is the leading provider of broadband and wireless weather products including weather.com, Desktop Weather by The Weather Channel, and The Weather Channel Mobile. weather.com, the Web site of The Weather Channel, is the ultimate source of weather on the Web helping users plan their lives by delivering timely current conditions, expert forecasts and relevant lifestyle content for 98,000 locations worldwide. weather.com reaches more than 30 million unique users each month, is the most popular source of online weather, news and information and is the most trusted source of online weather information according to Nielsen//NetRatings. The Weather Channel Interactive also provides consumers with unique and customizable products such as Desktop Weather and a full lineup of mobile services including downloads, messaging, mobile Web, and mobile video.
One Degree Climate: One Degree is humanizing the impact of climate change by presenting both general information and bringing into focus how climate change is affecting people's daily lives. The site www.weather.com/onedegree presents issues and open dialogue around a wide range of climate-related topics with and amongst users, guest bloggers and experts from The Weather Channel. The Weather Channel's network program, The Climate Code hosted by Dr. Heidi Cullen, provides open dialogue around climate change as well as educates and informs consumers about the important issues relating to the climate.
alan@newsblaze.com
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