NBC O&Os adds live radar feature to apps

NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations has added a “Live Radar” feature to its station apps.

This will allow app users direct access to real-time weather information, based on their location.

NBC says this move marks the first time a local broadcast television group is offering mobile app users access to multiple radar feeds in one location.

“For the first time, app users will be able to access this exclusive weather information in our station apps,” said Lora Dennis, senior vice president, digital media, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, in a statement. “We know that accurate and relevant weather updates are important to our audience and that’s why we partnered with The Weather Company to deliver a product that automatically gives app users the best weather condition information, especially when severe weather hits.”

The new “Live Radar” is available across all of the NBC and Telemundo-owned stations apps and is powered by a combination of three exclusive mobile radar trucks called “StormRangers or “CazaTormentas” and station fixed radars, including four high-frequency, S-Band radars located in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Miami and New York, as well as existing National Weather Service radars.

The “Live Radar” product was built in partnership with The Weather Company, an IBM Business, for NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations. Other features include:

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  • Smart, dynamic, seamless switching amongst radar assets to provide the most accurate, highest resolution about current and impending conditions possible
  • A highly dynamic environment where both the radars and the users can be moving about
  • Ability to zoom into the area the radar covers and receive real-time weather information.

“Audiences are demanding more on-demand content – with the highest degree of accuracy – than ever before,” said Bill Dow, general manager, media, for The Weather Company. “Now, NBC and Telemundo stations will generate their own radar data giving viewers a more timely and accurate view of severe weather in their area.”

Today’s announcement is part of the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations’ continued investment in state-of-the-art weather tools that are helping the NBC and Telemundo-owned stations stay on the cutting edge of weather technology to help keep their audience informed about potential weather threats.

To access the stations’ new “Live Radar,” download your local NBC and Telemundo-owned station app, which is available on iTunes and Google Play stores. Click on the “Weather Icon” in the right corner of the app’s header and tap on the radar image.

Viewers in the following markets can access a dedicated NBC and Telemundo station app: New York (WNBC, WNJU), Los Angeles (KNBC, KVEA), Chicago (WMAQ, WSNS), Philadelphia (WCAU, WWSI), Dallas-Fort Worth (KXAS, KXTX), San Francisco Bay Area (KNTV, KSTS), Washington, D.C. (WRC-TV), Houston (KTMD), Boston (NBC Boston, WNEU), Phoenix (KTAZ), Miami-Fort Lauderdale (WTVJ, WSCV), Denver (KDEN), San Diego (KNSD), Hartford (WVIT), San Antonio (KVDA), Las Vegas (KBLR), Tucson (KHRR), Harlingen-McAllen (KTLM) and Puerto Rico (WKAQ).