AccuWeather to expand mobile content offering

By Giselle Tsirulnik

October 1, 2008

Whither weather?

AccuWeather.com has announced plans to revamp its mobile site.

The weather content provider partnered with Transpera to allow 15-second relevant pre-rolls as well as companion banner ads and overlays.

"In the near future, we will be incorporating a wide range of videos, nearly everything available on our traditional Web site," said David Mitchell, director of wireless services at AccuWeather.com.

The company will be adding local weather forecasts for more than 100 cities, regional forecasts, national and international forecasts and severe weather videos.

Also, it will offer a wide range of life lifestyle and special interest videos including Health Weather, Travel Talk and Bloopers.

AccuWeather hasn't announced which advertisers will be placing ads within the videos. However, many brands are already said to have advertising relationships with AccuWeather.

This news comes on the heels of another announcement.

AccuWeather.com� and Newscom Hellas inked a partnership to integrate weather content into Newscom's channel offering, WTV (Weather TV).

The collaboration gives WTV's viewers access to�real-time weather information.
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WTV's tailored program serves its audience with important information for leisure and business travel, sea conditions and sailing reports, beach and outdoor reports, and winter weather and ski reports.

Broadcast in Greek, WTV provides a wealth of accurate real-time weather data and forecast services for Greece and Cyprus and all� major cities from around the world.�

Looking to the future, WTV is a�channel in the emerging Greek digital broadcast market, treating its viewers to a wide-screen presentation and in HD, where available.

The service will be made available for distribution throughout Greece on IPTV as well as satellite platforms this�fall.

In addition to its�PC Web site and mobile Web site, AccuWeather.com supports The Local AccuWeather Channel, a digital tier TV network which currently airs on the digital tier in 47 markets throughout the United States. Local AccuWeather Channel affiliates include all ABC-owned and operated stations, as well as numerous additional members of the CBS, Fox, ABC and NBC networks.�

"Video overall and mobile video, in particular, has a definite cool factor," Mr. Mitchell said. "The iPhone's presentation and interface have encouraged handset manufacturers everywhere to step up their game in terms of creating great user experiences.

"More phones are able to handle streaming video, and increased network speeds provide seamless viewing for end users," he said. "We believe that demand for mobile video will continue to rapidly increase and, as the most popular form of mobile web content, weather forecasts are a natural fit."