Here’s an informative breakdown of the — a niche but fascinating piece of software for weather enthusiasts and fans of The Weather Channel (TWC). What Is the IntelliStar 1? The IntelliStar (Intelligent Local Satellite Transmitter and Receiver) was The Weather Channel’s third-generation local forecast system, introduced in 2004 . The "IntelliStar 1" refers to the original SD (standard-definition) version, which displayed local weather information over TWC’s national feed until it was largely phased out by 2015.