Weather.com is owned and operated by The Weather Company, which is currently a subsidiary of the private equity firm Francisco Partners. This ownership structure was finalized in February 2024 after Francisco Partners completed its acquisition of the consumer-facing digital assets and enterprise weather data business from International Business Machines (IBM). While the brand is synonymous with weather forecasting globally, its corporate history involves a complex series of handoffs between major technology and media conglomerates.

The Current Ownership Under Francisco Partners

Francisco Partners, a leading global investment firm specializing in technology businesses, now holds the primary ownership of Weather.com. The acquisition, which was first announced in August 2023 and closed in early 2024, transformed The Weather Company into a standalone entity. According to financial filings, the total transaction value was approximately $1.1 billion, consisting of $750 million in immediate cash, $100 million deferred over a seven-year period, and $250 million in potential contingent consideration.

Under the stewardship of Francisco Partners, The Weather Company has pivoted back to functioning as an independent, technology-focused firm. Rohit Agarwal was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following the acquisition, tasked with overseeing the company's vast portfolio of digital properties and B2B weather solutions. The company remains headquartered in Brookhaven, Georgia, within the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Distinguishing Weather.com from The Weather Channel Television Network

A common point of confusion for many users is the distinction between Weather.com and The Weather Channel television network. While they share branding and history, they are owned by entirely different parent companies.

The Digital Assets (Owned by Francisco Partners)

The Weather Company, under Francisco Partners, owns the "The Weather Channel" brand and operates all digital platforms associated with it. This includes:

  • Weather.com: The flagship website and one of the most visited domains globally.
  • The Weather Channel App: A leading mobile application on both iOS and Android platforms.
  • Weather Underground (Wunderground.com): A specialized forecasting service utilizing a network of over 250,000 personal weather stations.
  • Storm Radar: A high-definition tracking application for severe weather events.

The Television Network (Owned by Allen Media Group)

In contrast, The Weather Channel television network is owned by Weather Group, LLC, which is a subsidiary of Allen Media Group (Entertainment Studios), led by Byron Allen. The TV network was sold to Byron Allen in 2018.

The relationship between the two entities is governed by a long-term licensing agreement. The Weather Company (Francisco Partners) provides the underlying weather data and the rights to use "The Weather Channel" name to the television network, but they operate as separate business organizations with distinct corporate strategies.

Historical Ownership Timeline of Weather.com

To understand who owns Weather.com today, it is essential to trace the journey of its parent organization, The Weather Company, through various phases of growth and divestment.

1980 – 2008: The Landmark Era

The Weather Channel was founded on July 18, 1980, by John Coleman and Frank Batten. For nearly three decades, it was owned by Landmark Communications. During this period, the brand evolved from a cable television novelty into a dominant digital presence with the launch of Weather.com in the mid-1990s.

2008 – 2016: The Consortium Ownership

In 2008, a consortium consisting of NBCUniversal, Bain Capital, and The Blackstone Group acquired The Weather Channel from Landmark Communications for approximately $3.5 billion. This era saw the restructuring of the business into "The Weather Company" in 2012 to better reflect its expanding digital and data-driven mission beyond traditional television.

2016 – 2024: The IBM Watson Years

Recognizing the value of hyper-local weather data for artificial intelligence, IBM acquired The Weather Company’s product and technology assets in January 2016. IBM integrated the company into its Watson & Cloud Platform business unit. The goal was to use weather data to enhance AI-driven insights for various industries. However, IBM did not acquire the TV network at this time, which remained with the consortium until its sale to Byron Allen in 2018.

2024 – Present: Francisco Partners

After eight years under IBM, the tech giant decided to divest its weather assets to focus on core software and hybrid cloud services. Francisco Partners stepped in to return The Weather Company to its roots as a dedicated weather technology provider.

The Scope of The Weather Company Assets

The ownership of Weather.com involves much more than just a website. Francisco Partners acquired a massive technological infrastructure that powers weather information for billions of people and thousands of businesses.

Consumer Digital Reach

Weather.com consistently ranks as the world's most popular weather website, often seeing over 1 billion monthly visits. The mobile application is equally dominant, serving more than 360 million users. These platforms monetize through advertising and premium subscription tiers, such as "Probabilistic Snowfall" features for paid members.

Enterprise and Aviation Solutions

Beyond consumer apps, the company is a major player in B2B weather services. Its aviation tools support roughly 25,000 flights daily. Products like Maverick Dispatch, a cloud-based software released in 2025, help airlines like Breeze Airways and Horizon Air manage weather-related operational risks using predictive analytics.

Data and Advertising Technology

The company operates a sophisticated weather API used by third parties, including Google and Apple, for their native weather integrations. Additionally, its advertising arm allows brands to target consumers based on atmospheric triggers—such as showing allergy medication ads when pollen counts are high or promoting cold beverages during heatwaves.

AI and Future Technological Directions

Under its current ownership, The Weather Company has intensified its focus on artificial intelligence to improve forecast accuracy. A cornerstone of this effort is the Global High-Resolution Atmospheric Forecasting (GRAF) system. This system utilizes crowdsourced data from smartphones and aircraft sensors to provide high-frequency updates that traditional government models may miss.

In 2024, the company signed a strategic partnership with NVIDIA to develop advanced AI weather forecasting tools. This includes the implementation of the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration (JEDI) into the GRAF system, enhancing the way satellite data is processed. Such innovations are aimed at maintaining the company's status as a leader in forecast accuracy, a claim supported by independent studies from institutions like the University of Reading.

How Weather.com Generates Value for Its Owners

Francisco Partners' investment in Weather.com is predicated on the increasing economic impact of weather events. As climate volatility rises, the demand for precise, actionable weather data grows across multiple sectors:

  1. Safety and Preparedness: Providing life-saving alerts for hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires.
  2. Operational Efficiency: Helping logistics companies and energy providers optimize their workflows based on atmospheric conditions.
  3. Media Infrastructure: Through the "Max" graphics platform, the company provides the green-screen maps and augmented reality visuals used by local news stations across the United States.

Summary of Ownership and Control

The ownership of Weather.com is currently held by Francisco Partners through its subsidiary, The Weather Company. While the brand "The Weather Channel" is shared with a television network owned by Allen Media Group, the digital platforms, the data API, and the specialized forecasting brands like Weather Underground all belong to the Francisco Partners portfolio. This transition marks a new chapter for the site, moving away from a larger corporate conglomerate (IBM) to a private equity environment focused on scaling specialized technology and data services.

Frequently Asked Questions about Weather.com Ownership

Does IBM still own Weather.com?

No, IBM sold its weather business, including Weather.com and The Weather Channel app, to the private equity firm Francisco Partners in a deal that closed in February 2024.

Is Weather.com the same as The Weather Channel TV network?

They are two separate businesses. Weather.com (digital) is owned by Francisco Partners. The Weather Channel television network is owned by Allen Media Group. They share a branding agreement and data source.

Who is the CEO of the company that owns Weather.com?

The CEO of The Weather Company is Rohit Agarwal, who took the position following the acquisition by Francisco Partners.

Does Google own Weather.com?

No, Google does not own Weather.com. However, Google uses The Weather Company's data API to power weather results in its search engine and on Android devices.

What other websites are owned by the same company as Weather.com?

The Weather Company also owns and operates Weather Underground (wunderground.com) and the Storm Radar application.