Met Office revamps ITV weather after losing BBC deal

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/oct/03/met-office-revamps-itv-weather-after-losing-bbc-deal

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ITV has struck a new deal to keep using the Met Office after the weather forecaster was dumped by the BBC after almost a century.

The broadcaster, which has used the Met Office for 25 years, said new-look weather reports will be rolled out across its national, regional and Good Morning Britain bulletins.

ITV, which airs 111 weather bulletins a day, said the deal makes it the “broadcast home of Met Office weather”.

“We are pleased to be extending our established working relationship with the Met Office,” said the ITV director of news and current affairs, Michael Jermey.

“The new-look weather service we have developed which is on-air from today means even more detailed forecasts for our audiences across the UK.”

ITV said consumer research showed that viewers were keen to see more graphics in weather broadcasts that give a “greater visual understanding of how the weather will impact their location”.

The new-look forecast will see the traditional graphics and symbols replaced with high resolution maps.

“The new service we are launching today is the latest development in our work together and will ensure ITV’s UK audiences continue to receive our trusted forecasts and critical warnings so they are prepared for whatever the weather may bring,” said the Met Office chief executive, Rob Varley.

In August, the BBC announced that MeteoGroup, which until 2013 was owned by the parent company of the Press Association news agency, as the forecaster replacing the Met Office after 94 years.

MeteoGroup already supplies weather to Channel 4 and Sky.