Foreign firm to take over from Met Office?

BBC weather forecasts may be supplied by foreign meteorologist, it has emerged.

After the Exeter-based Met Office lost its contract with the BBC for the first time since 1922, the frontrunners to take over are Dutch New Zealand firms.

Exeter MP and former BBC journalist, Ben Bradshaw, called the decision 'madness' and called on the government to intervene.

It has been reported that after the BBC lost out in the tendering process, the two remaining favourites are Metra, an offshoot of the New Zealand national forecasting service and Meteo, collaboration between the UK-based Press Association and the Dutch National Weather Service.

The BBC is legally required to secure the best value for money for licence fee payers and will tender the contract to outside competition.

Steve Noyes, Met Office operations and customer services director, told BBC News: "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."

The Met Office also provides many of the presenters who read the weather on the BBC and said it would be supporting them to "ensure clarity on their future".
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 said the Met Office's severe weather warnings would still be used by the BBC.

Met Office responds to losing BBC contract http://www.theexeterdaily.co.uk/news/business-daily-local-news/met-offic...