Watch The Weather Channel like its 1999 with the official RetroCast
Popular Science...
The people have spoken. The Weather Channel has officially announced a new look rolling out across both its website and on its app—one with a distinctly nostalgic, Y2K-esque vibe to it.
“This is not an April Fool’s joke. You’ve asked (a lot) and we’ve listened,” the meteorological source wrote in a social media post.
RetroCast Now gives viewers the current local conditions and upcoming forecasts a throwback look nearly identical to what viewers saw on The Weather Channel during the late-90s and early 2000s. And yes, that even includes a relaxing smooth jazz soundtrack to accompany the experience.
Similar to previous fan-sourced projects, RetroCast Now harkens back to a much more pixelated time and technology. In 1982, the Weather Channel debuted WeatherStar to boost its forecasting abilities. “Star” is short for Satellite Transponder Addressable Receiver, and consists of a computer attachment known as a headend installed in a cable system’s central broadcasting facility. This lets The Weather Channel receive and send out localized weather info, as well as potentially lifesaving alerts if severe storms are nearby.
Although the visual aesthetics have changed, the broadcast technology is largely similar to early incarnations. But according to The Weather Channel, people have also been clamoring for the matching artwork.
“The idea came from listening to our users. In an era where on-demand weather data is at everyone’s fingertips, we want to celebrate the nostalgia and the innovation of the 90’s,” Mark Fredo, executive creator director at The Weather Channel, explains to Popular Science. “This was the moment local weather storytelling was first delivered at scale, transforming a simple forecast into a communal experience.”
Inspired by this history, Fredo’s team redesigned the overall look in a way to fit today’s screens—both big and small. It’s not a passing fad, either. Fredo confirmed that RetroCast Now will be available for the foreseeable future. An option to toggle between website vibes will soon become available on The Weather Channel’s homepage. There are also plans for additional thematic projects down the line, although that forecast (pun intended is a bit murky.
“While we have more surprises in development, our focus remains on delivering the most engaging and intuitive weather storytelling in the world,” says Fredo.
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