Updated 4/3 -- UTICA/ROME -- There's a new company, but a familiar voice, providing weather forecasts on WIBX 950 starting this morning. The Weather Channel is out, as the Townsquare Media station signs with a new provider called "The Storm Report."
The familiar voice is that of Jennifer Naramore, who formerly worked for The Weather Channel. Naramore now works for The Storm Report instead, so her forecasts are back on the news/talk station as of today.
Nearly a month ago, Clear Channel Syracuse news/talker WSYR-AM/FM and rhythmic CHR Hot 107.9 (WWHT) also dropped The Weather Channel, changing over to AccuWeather.com's radio forecasting services.
Townsquare Media Utica-Rome Ops Manager Bill McAdams tells CNYRadio.com that WIBX's separation from The Weather Channel was due to the fact the popular cable network stopped offering voiced weather reports to radio affiliates. He says TWC still provides text forecasts, but he preferred to switch to a service that could provide a voice for WIBX. (This could also explain The Weather Channel's recent disappearance from a few other stations in the CNYRadio.com coverage area.)