It’s got to be the first time a local met ever did the forecast live on TV complete with graphics while riding a bike.
The look on Emily Leonard’s face was pure delight. Leonard, the 5 o’clock news anchor on WTVA, Allen Media’s dual NBC-ABC affiliate in Tupelo, Miss., was introducing the weather segment by Matt Laubhan, the station’s chief meteorologist. And the split screen showed Laubhan riding his bike.
“Doing the weather and riding a bike is as easy as riding a bike,” Leonard says.
Well, not quite. Laubhan says he asked his wife, what if I did the forecast bike riding? Her reaction was, “you’re going to kill yourself,” Laubhan says.
It’s got to be the first time a local met ever did the forecast live on TV complete with graphics while riding a bike.
“We’ve been trying to emphasize memorable TV moments.” Laubhan says. To achieve those, Laubhan has experimented with where he delivers his live forecasts.
He sleds down the station’s icy driveway, hikes some nearby trails and visits a frozen lake.
All memorable TV moments.
Laubhan credits technology for making his live weather reports from wherever easier.
“We’ve been trying to think of ways we can use augmented reality with the simpler live set up,” he says. “You can do a lot more with a phone than a bulky camera.”
For the bike riding forecast, Laubhan velcroed his iPad to the handlebars, and used a stabilizing gimbal for his cell phone.
To get from one graphic display to the next, he hit the spacebar on his iPad.
Laubhan says it’s all a team effort and credits management for supporting his creative approach to the forecasts.
At the end of his bike forecast, his co-anchor Emily Leonard smiles and says to Laubhan: “I’m so impressed. Rode a bike, delivered the weather, did a live shot, all at the same time.”
“My wife was impressed that I did not die,” Laubhan says.
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