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July 1981
Landmark Communications Inc. announces it will begin operating a live 24-hour weather news network nationwide on cable TV starting in the spring of 1982.
May 2, 1982
The Weather Channel debuts.
November 1982
The Weather Channel starts airing locally to Cox Cable subscribers.
August 1983
After losing millions in its first year of operation, John Coleman, “the father of The Weather Channel,” surrenders control of the cable network to Landmark.
January 1984
The Weather Channel starts charging cable operators to carry the network.
1992
The Weather Channel is seen in 50 million homes.
1995
Weather.com launches on the Internet.
June 1996
The Weather Channel becomes available in parts of Europe. In the United States, the network is seen in nearly 63 million households.
November 1996
The Weather Channel Latin America is launched.
December 1997
Landmark Board votes to shut down The Weather Channel in its European channels citing stiff government regulation and European competitors.
1999
The Weather Channel is seen in 73 million U.S. homes.
August 2000
The Weather Channel starts developing its own prime-time programming and launches “Atmospheres,” an original TV news magazine focusing on weather news and information.
2002
The Weather Channel closes its television operations in Latin America, blaming the region’s economic problems.
2003
The Weather Channel debuts a new series called “Storm Stories,” where each episode re-creates real-life dramas featuring rescues, survivors and intense weather.
2005
The Weather Channel redesigns its logo and revamps its programming.
2007
The Weather Channel celebrates its 25th anniversary on the air. 93 million homes receive the network.
January 2008
Landmark announces its plans to sell all of its businesses, including The Weather Channel.
June 2008
The Weather Channel unveils its $60 million High Definition Studio.
July 2008
A consortium of NBC Universal and two private equity firms, Blackstone Group and Bain Capital, reaches deal to buy The Weather Channel Cos. from Landmark reportedly for $3.5 billion.
Sources: The Virginian-Pilot archive; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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