ITV's forecasts are provided by the Met Office, but they still manage to make a pigs ear of it by virtue of their presenters being crap. I don't think a change of provider for the BBC will necessarily mean a dumbing down of forecasts.

Most American networks have Dollybird presenters with fake tans and bumps, but at least our bimbo weathergirls tend to be educated or at least have GCSE Geography!

Maybe the forecasting industry could do with a shake up!

I think this is something the lovely Simon Keeling has always wanted to develop...If the BBC does go down the route of just providing very limited "nowcast" type forecasts then maybe an opportunity might open up for a dedicated "Weather channel" especially as it's relatively easy to start a channel these day's with digital TV and the internet etc...

Would be something I'd be potentially interested in exploring at some point in the future.

I very rarely watch BBC weather anyway as we now have Gav's excellent videos almost daily.

Thanks Duane. 

Probably been posted before but some interesting reflections on how things have changed over the years..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25665340

This is really going to hit hard come the winter, when we essentially loose the BBC forecasts as a tool.

I've just returned to the UK so haven't had chance to follow this story. The implication of the little I have read is the BBC contract is being put out to tender as it was in 2010. Back then the Met Office won the contract. How is this different?

It isn't

In that case I don't see what all the fuss is about. Presumably the existing contract is up for renewal as it was in 2010. Sounds like a non story?

The BBC is to stop getting its data for its main weather forecasts from the Met Office, ending a partnership with the body which began with the birth of the Corporation in 1922.

 Yes they will go for a process of putting out to tender but that is the law  . I dont think they will stay with the met office after autumn 2016

As I've just said I've not had chance to look at this in depth. My point is a very simple one. The contract will be put out to tender, so surely the MetO will be able to bid for it? Has it been stated categorically that the MetO will be excluded from the bidding process?

I think the BBC has turned down the Met's bid (and will be going with another provider) effectively ending the partnership?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34031785

"The Met Office has lost its BBC weather forecasting contract, it has confirmed.

The UK's weather service has provided the data used for BBC forecasts since the corporation's first radio weather bulletin on 14 November 1922.

The BBC said it was legally required to secure the best value for money for licence fee payers and would tender the contract to outside competition.

The Met Office said it was disappointed by the decision. A replacement is expected to take over next year..."

I guess it's possible this could still be part of the BBC/Met negotiations and the Met may put in the second big... But it sounds pretty final at the moment? 

Exactly so. Beware erroneous speculation & false assumptions. It's falling thick and fast at a rate of 32mm/hr across *all* weather forums today. That's all I can say on the matter. 

I must admit I'm shocked by this news- I didn't see this coming at all and I suspect neither did many people.

To think as well that the MetO have been providing forecasts for the Beeb ever since 1922! I only hope that for their sake, they don't end up seriously regretting this decision.

That sound's reassuring Ian! 

If the MetO has lost the contract then I would expect something like this to follow:

1) Reorganisation at the Met Office

2) Privatisation of the forecasting division 

3) Date provision either opened up like NCEP or (depending on 1) a more commercial implementation of the current model

Unlike most people in this thread I do have a small amount of experience of speaking to the Met / ECM about the commercial provisioning of data. Between them they currently have the best numerical output available and control the radar network. However, access to their data sets comes at a high price which most small agencies can't justify paying whilst NCEP, CMC etc are free. Can't recall exact figures but ECM access was I think in the region of £80k to £100k per annum. The Met and ECM also gave me the impression of not having a strong sales focus. If Met / ECM were to implement a flexible self service 'pick n mix' model which was competitively priced they would quickly establish a large customer base across different media channels such as web sites, apps, local TV/radio etc.

What about the new BBC forecast provider? We'll need to wait and see but I'd be surprised if:

1) the full forecasting team is retained
2) presentation and graphics remain as now
2) the amount of repeat and looped forecasts is not increased

Have thought of one possible benefit of the Met no longer having the contract with the BBC, it could mean a return of some of the old faces we've lost.

Maybe we'll see Michael Fish, John Kettley and Rob Mcelwee (who currently works for Al Jezeera) making a come back?

Meanwhile, here's Simon's take;

http://www.weatherweb.net/wxwebtvsimonnew.php?ID=1451