Longest Weather Segment?

[rellet]

I recently ended up getting 6 minutes for the main weather segment after some severe timing issues occurred. It was the longest weather segment I have had after being in the business a little over 2 years. It made me curious what the longest weather segment you have had and what lead to those circumstances?

[SevereClear]

4 years ago I went 7:45 after a video server failed. It actually wasn't that hard to do... even though the weather was kind of quiet.

[wxaffectsyou]

I had a 6 minute weathercast a few months ago. The news video server crashed a couple of minutes into the show, and they couldn't get it back up and running until sports.

I spent a lot of time explaining EVERYTHING going on in the world of weather that evening, lol.

[Nyquist]

My best was a two minute first weather, five minute main, and 1:45 last. A switcher or something died here. They got it back up for sports, but it died again after sports which eliminated the final news block. I spent a lot of time on radar since we had returns in the area and remember explaining each day on the 7-day.

[Hipster Doofus]

Several years ago, the president held some sort of press conference at 11am. Our master control figured that he or the network would fill until Noon, so they did not roll the regularly scheduled program. Well, the president wrapped up at 11:45, and network dumped right out of it as well. We HAD to start our Noon show 15 minutes early. I was told to go as long as possible for weather, and I think I ended up rambling on and on for 12 minutes!. That plus a few extra national packages and extra promos, and we ate up the extra time.

[Bob Sakamano]

Several years ago, the president held some sort of press conference at 11am. Our master control figured that he or the network would fill until Noon, so they did not roll the regularly scheduled program. Well, the president wrapped up at 11:45, and network dumped right out of it as well. We HAD to start our Noon show 15 minutes early. I was told to go as long as possible for weather, and I think I ended up rambling on and on for 12 minutes!. That plus a few extra national packages and extra promos, and we ate up the extra time.

You must for for an ABC. :doh: I still remember the night the Iraq war started and good 'ole Peter Jennings saying they would stay on. Almost everyone went home and no show was produced. At 9:58 you everybody heard Peter say something like, "We're going go wrap up here for now so we can you your local news. Good night."

My long wxcast story...
Morning producer and director (at a different station) always enjoyed doing things to annoy me on air. Either saying dirty things in my IFB or popping up some crazy video in my monitors at the wall. Usually it was Jerry Springer, sometimes my good buddy Red Rover, as he was doing morning weather at the competition an hour south. Anyways, one morning I had some stuff to talk about as some big wx was coming our way later that day. As usual, the director kept messing with me until I started going over. I went on and on and on. I eventually ditched the IFB and continued talking. By the time I was done talking, the producer was in the studio, on the floor, begging for me to shut up. I think I put her something like 7 minutes heavy.

I never had a problem with them again. :D

[nsj]

Any other current ABCers or refugees remember the night of Shock and Awe^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^HDid-Peter-Just-Say-They-Were-Wrapping-Holy-$#!&-somebody-call-production-back?

Yeah, I do. I'll never forget it.

The voice box said they were filling until the morning, so we sent most of production home. As he's shutting everything down for the night, I'm chatting with our director about something, when we hear Peter start to sound like he's wrapping.

"Did he just say what I thought he said?"

"@#$%!"

I run to the newsroom, alert the anchor and one other production staffer in the building, and help them rustle up tapes and scripts. After the fastest five minutes of "producing" -- I use the term loosely -- I've ever seen, we put the newscast on the air.

Our director was also doing graphics, I was running audio and timing the show (for what it was worth), and the other production staffer was running tapes.

After the A-block, our head director shows up and takes over audio so I can prep my weathercast. Fortunately, I'd done a little looking beforehand and found a couple of web sources for Iraq and other Middle East satellite data and obs. Good thing, too... I wound up needing it to fill the nearly nine minutes of weather I was asked to cover.

Ahh, the joys of small market television!

Eiplogue: David Westin eventually apologized for the mixup. We're still waiting for our cigarette, though. :)

[itelltheweather]

The fourth weekend at my new job, the video server failed. The Producer asked if I could go about 4... after a good 45 seconds of whitty banter with the anchor, I step on the wall and the Producer tells me... "Dude, you got 5:30 to fill... talk slow.."

But that still wasnt the longest... my anchor at my previous job was also the producer of the show.. and she would routinely cut my time.. 15 here, 30 there... after awhile I told her no more. Well it continued so I did about 8 minutes of weather and screwed the whole show.. it felt great and she never cut weather again without asking nicely.

[Golfball_Size_Hail]

I used to routinely due 6 and a half. That included video and a kids drawing.

[WXRULES]

Had a 6:30 weather years ago when package failed to make it in time. It was quite fun. Threw about 30 graphics into the show and, sadly, almost went over!

[Schwenneker]

Longest was almost 8 minutes. During ratings, I've been getting around 1:15-1:30. Now that they're over back to 2:30. :)

[SevereClear]

I'm assuming you meant "Non-Severe" weather hits...

If not, 27 hours for Hurricane Ivan at my old shop and 8 Hours of tornado warnings here!

[Al Bedo]

ParkerVision crashed on us recently, and since wx is the only source they can get when that happens, after 15 mins of PSAs leading into our show, I followed up with at least 6 mins of off-camera wx. That was tough. The viewers got every detail about the 7 day though.

[Mayhem]

Well... during Katrina I had I think a 2 hour weather segment at one point...

[fairskies]

My longest wx segment was about ten years ago when all the video bays crashed...I went on for 11 minutes and it was the best newscast ever.

[Red Rover]

Either saying dirty things in my IFB or popping up some crazy video in my monitors at the wall. Usually it was Jerry Springer, sometimes my good buddy Red Rover, as he was doing morning weather at the competition an hour south.

I've never felt sorry for you more than I do now
:p


I will admit...that's actually pretty funny...and quite disturbing

[mountain guru]

there was a time when I got 8 while I was at 7.

(minutes that is)

[Bob Sakamano]

I've never felt sorry for you more than I do now
:p


I will admit...that's actually pretty funny...and quite disturbing

We had such fun. :D