<P> As of January 2016, The Weather Channel is received by 88 million households in America . </P> <P> The Weather Channel was founded on July 18, 1980, by veteran television meteorologist John Coleman (who, at the time of the channel's founding, had formerly served as a chief meteorologist at ABC owned - and - operated station WLS - TV in Chicago and as a forecaster for Good Morning America) and Frank Batten, then - president of the channel's original owner Landmark Communications (now Landmark Media Enterprises). The channel launched at 8: 00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 2, 1982 . Originally, regional and local information was obtained by the National Weather Service for broadcast . Since 2002, all forecasting has been done on - site in Atlanta . </P> <P> The Weather Channel uses special proprietary equipment that inserts information on current and future local weather conditions, and weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center and National Hurricane Center, if it is viewed on a cable television provider . The original WeatherStar technology has been upgraded on larger cable systems to the IntelliStar, which incorporates "Vocal Local" to announce current conditions, weather bulletins and detailed local forecasts . Subscribers of satellite, IPTV and some smaller cable providers originally saw only a roundup of local TWC - sourced forecasts for major cities across the U.S., as well as national and regional satellite and radar images, and severe weather watch and warning maps when active . However, satellite customers with newer systems or interactive TV receivers have the choice of "roundups" or localized forecasts . For both cable and satellite viewers, popular music (formerly smooth jazz) plays in the background during these segments . Some older WeatherStar units were still in use by small cable companies that couldn't afford to upgrade to the IntelliStar . The WeatherStar units are also able to overlay text - based local contact information over the national feed during certain business advertisements aired on the channel . </P> <P> The Weather Channel operates a service based on modified versions of the WeatherStar technology called Weatherscan, a separate non-network TV channel which constantly displays local and regional conditions, and forecasts, along with The Weather Channel's logo, and on some cable systems, advertisements . </P>

Where does the weather channel get its information