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Met Office loses BBC weather forecasting contract after 93 years Met Office loses BBC weather forecasting contract after 93 years
(about 1 hour later)
The Met Office has lost the contract it has held for close to a century to provide weather forecasts to the BBC.The Met Office has lost the contract it has held for close to a century to provide weather forecasts to the BBC.
The weather service said it was disappointed by the BBC’s decision to tender the contract – which has been in place since the corporation’s first radio weather bulletin on 14 November 1922 – to outside competition.The weather service said it was disappointed by the BBC’s decision to tender the contract – which has been in place since the corporation’s first radio weather bulletin on 14 November 1922 – to outside competition.
The broadcaster said it was legally required to open up the contract to outside competition to secure the best value for money for licence fee payers. The broadcaster said it was legally required to open up the contract to outside competition to secure the best value for licence fee payers.
Steve Noyes, Met Office operations and customer services director, said: “Nobody knows Britain’s weather better and, during our long relationship with the BBC, we’ve revolutionised weather communication to make it an integral part of British daily life.Steve Noyes, Met Office operations and customer services director, said: “Nobody knows Britain’s weather better and, during our long relationship with the BBC, we’ve revolutionised weather communication to make it an integral part of British daily life.
“This is disappointing news, but we will be working to make sure that vital Met Office advice continues to be a part of BBC output. Ranked number one in the world for forecast accuracy, people trust our forecasts and warnings.”“This is disappointing news, but we will be working to make sure that vital Met Office advice continues to be a part of BBC output. Ranked number one in the world for forecast accuracy, people trust our forecasts and warnings.”
A new provider is expected to take over in the next year. Dutch and New Zealand firms are said to be in the running for the contract, which is believed to make up a sizeable share of the £32.5m a year the Met Office receives from commercial organisations, according to the Mail on Sunday. A new provider is expected to take over in the next year. Dutch and New Zealand firms are said to be in the running for the contract, which is believed to make up a sizeable share of the £32.5m the Met Office receives annually from commercial organisations, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen told the newspaper: “Everybody understands the BBC has to cut costs. But the public will need to be convinced the new forecaster can accurately predict the fickleness of the British weather, especially if it’s a foreign provider.” The Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen told the newspaper: “Everybody understands the BBC has to cut costs. But the public will need to be convinced the new forecaster can accurately predict the fickleness of the British weather, especially if it’s a foreign provider.”
Former culture secretary and former BBC journalist, Ben Bradshaw, called for government intervention. “Extremely alarmed by rumours BBC to drop UK Met Office in favour of foreign weather forecaster. Vital 90-year-old strategic relationship,” he tweeted. Ben Bradshaw, a former culture secretary and former BBC journalist, called for government intervention. “Extremely alarmed by rumours BBC to drop UK Met Office in favour of foreign weather forecaster,” he tweeted. “Vital 90-year-old strategic relationship.”
1/Extremely alarmed by rumours BBC to drop UK Met Office in favour of foreign weather forecaster. Vital 90 year old strategic relationship.1/Extremely alarmed by rumours BBC to drop UK Met Office in favour of foreign weather forecaster. Vital 90 year old strategic relationship.
2/Not only weather forecasting. Shipping forecast, extreme weather/crisis events/national defence. Madness if true. Govt must intervene2/Not only weather forecasting. Shipping forecast, extreme weather/crisis events/national defence. Madness if true. Govt must intervene
The Met Office last year announced plans to spend £97m on a new supercomputer. The forecaster has faced criticism in recent years, most notably the ‘’barbecue summer’’ forecast in 2009 that preceded a washout and led to the organisation ending long-term outlooks. The Met Office last year announced plans to spend £97m on a new supercomputer. The forecaster has faced criticism in recent years, most notably the “barbecue summer’’ forecast in 2009 that preceded a washout and led to the organisation ending long-term outlooks.
A BBC spokesman said: “Our viewers get the highest standard of weather service and that won’t change. We are legally required to go through an open-tender process and take forward the strongest bids to make sure we secure both the best possible service and value for money for the licence fee payer.”A BBC spokesman said: “Our viewers get the highest standard of weather service and that won’t change. We are legally required to go through an open-tender process and take forward the strongest bids to make sure we secure both the best possible service and value for money for the licence fee payer.”
The spokesman added that the Met Office’s severe weather warnings will continue to be used by the corporation.The spokesman added that the Met Office’s severe weather warnings will continue to be used by the corporation.