The Weather Channel Interactive Creates Countdown to Christmas

Atlanta, GA (Vocus) December 22, 2009 -- The Weather Channel Interactive (TWCi) now offers weather.com visitors weather-related holiday planning help with its new “Countdown to Christmas” section available at www.weather.com. Weather can have a major impact on any holiday celebration, and “Countdown to Christmas” allows consumers to plan ahead and make the most of the holiday season with accurate weather forecasts, gift guides, travel tips and more.

Custom content created by TWCi includes great weather-centric tips to help prepare for the festive holiday season, whether shopping for gifts, taking a trip or planning a holiday feast. TWCi offers its own holiday gifts to site visitors:

• All-weather gift ideas – accessories and stocking stuffers to weather any forecast

• Holiday getaways – top holiday destinations whether cold and snowy trips or warm and sunny getaways are preferred

• More time – 20 holiday time-saving tips to help the busy shopper and holiday planner

• Great tastes – enjoy recipes for eggnog and sweet treats to share with family or friends

• Holiday spirit – a slide show of user-generated photos showcasing an array of Christmas lights and decorations

• Holiday weather – TWC’s popular “Will it Snow on Christmas” section provides weather forecast maps to help plan for Christmas morning.

The new Christmas section, created in partnership with American Express’ DailyWish program, launched Dec. 1 and offers weather information and relevant holiday content for the season. The partnership runs throughout the month of December, and the “Countdown to Christmas” will be prominently featured on the weather.com homepage for the 10 days leading up to Christmas, Dec. 15-25.

The Weather Channel is celebrating the holiday in other ways as well. The Weather Channel Guaranteed White Christmas contest will bring the magic of snow, along with live broadcasts, to one lucky winner on Dec. 25, no matter the regional forecast. For more contest details, visit www.weather.com/whitechristmas. Additionally, The Weather Channel recently launched “Holiday Party,” a music CD featuring the exclusive single “Please Don’t Forget” by Aaron Neville. A portion of the proceeds from the single and the CD, both available at theweatherchannelmusic.com, will benefit The Salvation Army.

For details and to get the holiday forecast and “Countdown to Christmas,” visit www.weather.com.

About The Weather Channel Interactive:

The Weather Channel Interactive (TWCi) is the leading provider of broadband and wireless weather products including weather.com, The Weather Channel Desktop and The Weather Channel Mobile. weather.com, the Web site of The Weather Channel, is the ultimate source of weather on the Web helping users plan their lives by delivering timely current conditions, expert forecasts and relevant lifestyle content for 98,000 location IDs worldwide. TWCi reaches more than 40 million unique users online each month and is the most popular source of online weather, news and information according to Nielsen//NetRatings. TWCi also provides consumers with unique and customizable products such as Desktop Weather, toolbars, extensions, widgets, gadgets, and a full lineup of mobile services including downloads, messaging, mobile Web, and mobile video. Other TWCi sites include forGetaway.com, a vacation home rental site, and a series of international sites, including www.weather.co.uk, www.meteo123.com, www.wetter123.com, www.canaldotempo.com, in.weather.com and www.weather.com/espanol. For more information on The Weather Channel Companies, including press releases, images, executive information and backgrounders please visit www.weather.com/press.

About American Express:

Merchant Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe, which welcome American Express-branded Cards. DailyWish.com, American Express' online marketplace, gives American Express® Cardmembers exclusive access to hand-picked offers at great prices. American Express Company is a leading global payments, network, travel and banking company founded in 1850.

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