Happy Birthday Traffic & Weather!

By Elisa DiStefano

             A decade ago, Mr. Charles Dolan (the Chairman of Cablevision) had a vision of a camera network that covered Cablevision's viewing area... We now call it News 12 Traffic & Weather (Channel 61). On August 5, 1998, the channel launched with only weather reports.  A few weeks later, traffic was added. It was the first of its kind! The first traffic report could only use one camera. Today we have access to 200 Inform cameras and we can use as many as we'd like in our 2 minute reports.

Traffic & Weather has changed a lot in the past 10 years. I was hired to be an "on-camera" traffic reporter. Yes, you could actually see the reporters on Traffic & Weather... We would stand in front of a chroma key, just like I do now at News 12 Long Island.  Our on-camera days were short lived, but that is how many of my friends got their start in this business. Do you recognize any of the faces in these photos?

 

The photos were taken at News 12 Traffic & Weather's 10th Anniversary party last night. Former News 12 reporter Liz Burke,  News 12 NJ's Jamie Shupak, FOX 5's Vanessa Alfano, CW11's Jill Nicolini, plus (not photographed) Weather Plus' Stacy Ann Gooden, WNBC's Pei Sze Cheng, WABC's Thalia Patillo and I all worked together. We took road trips all over the Tri-State area to experience what we would be reporting. We had so much fun!  I am blessed with some dear friends, in addition to an amazing learning experience.

That's me when I started! My first time at the Chroma Key!

 

Photos of Traffic & Weather Past...

 

  Inside of Traffic & Weather today...

Today, Traffic & Weather is home to some wonderful people and friends who happen to be very hard workers and talented reporters. They are on their toes 24 hours a day searching through cameras, calling our local police, listening to scanners, making maps, researching construction projects, and trying to bring you the most accurate and up to the minute traffic reports.  To learn more about Traffic & Weather, Channel 61, please click here.

    Happy 10th Birthday Traffic & Weather! Cheers to many more!  Congratulations Mr. Dolan, Jeff Blum & the fantastic Traffic & Weather crew--and thank you for making me a part of your family! Know Before You Go!

Comments

[Michael]

Elisa, 10 years is certainly something to celebrate, but I much more enjoy your feature reporting. Tell the boss to give you more assignments!

[Laurie Mapleson Yannucci]

Tired of doing puff peices?
You, at of all casters on News 12, have an impact on the motoring public ...help the DOT and do a piece on my Dad. Patrick Mapleson..

[martin]

hi elisa, great blog and nice pictures,congradulations on 10 years work. I especially like the picture of you standing next to olessa,the evening traffic reporter, she is just as great as you are.don't remember some of those names you mentioned.keep up the good work. take care sandman....

[Pat]

hey Elisa great blog!! can't believe it's been 10 years already that the traffic and weather channel has been on. where did the time go? great pics also from the party! you look beautiful in the pics as always, and by the old pic of you even beautiful back than as well. hope to be able to read more from you soon.

[Tim]

Hey Elisa,

I can't belivie its 10 years for Traffic & Weather on channel 61. Didn't know alot of people got there start there. Elisa keep up the good work there. I'm so happy you got your start there just like everyone else did. Hope to hear from you soon.

[Christina]

Wow, you look great! I never knew so many that we see on network TV got their start at the Traffic & Weather Channel, pretty interesting...
I sure hope Vanessa lands on her feet and that we see her back soon on the air.

Nice story; thanks for sharing the stories and photo's! Hope you had fun.