Paul Douglas launches 24/7 weather channel
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Image: Courtesy of Weather Loon
Paul Douglas has one more big idea before signing off on his 40-plus years as a meteorologist and entrepreneur: the launch of a 24/7 streaming weather channel.
Why it matters: Douglas hopes Weather Loon will serve as a model for groups in other states that could buy its technology to start their own channels, he told Axios in an interview.
The intrigue: Minnesotans are weather-obsessed — just watch how many forecasts appear on TV news broadcasts — but it remains to be seen if they're interested enough to log in at 2am on the Weather Loon website or its YouTube channel.
- Douglas said Weather Loon has a stronger focus on outstate Minnesota, which doesn't always get the same attention as the metro.
How it works: Douglas has built a system in which his staff of about 10 meteorologists produce live and recorded forecasts from an Eden Prairie studio.
- While the meteorologists aren't always live, the channel's weather-play systems constantly produce new graphics that can run when no one is on camera.
- It soft-launched in March and is being refined ahead of the spring severe weather season, Douglas said.
What they're saying: "I see a future where there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of these statewide and citywide streams," Douglas said.
Context: Douglas is a household name in the Twin Cities because of his years at KARE 11 and WCCO TV and Radio.
- But he's also launched seven companies, with his biggest home run being Digital Cyclone, which he sold to Garmin in 2007 for $45 million.
Weather Loon is part of parent company Praedictix, which provides forecasts for local TV stations that have cut their weather teams.
- It also conducts severe weather briefings for Fortune 500 companies and provides forensic forecasting so companies can prove, for example, that hail caused damage to their property for insurance purposes.
The bottom line: Douglas is among several well-known local meteorologists planning to hang it up — Belinda Jensen and Paul Huttner are also (mostly) calling it a career this year.
- "It's my last company, by the way," Douglas, 67, said of Weather Loon. "It's been fun, and there's always going to be a shiny object, but I'm getting too old for this."