From today, the BBC is introducing a change to the perspective of its new 3D weather map after carefully assessing feedback from viewers. The move follows comments from viewers that the map gave too much prominence to the southern part of the country. The change to the ’tilt’ of the map will allow viewers to see more of the North of England and Scotland.
Andrew Lane, BBC Weather Manager, said: “We are proud of the new weather map - it is very flexible, and we believe that it provides the clarity and realism that viewers want. However, we have always made it clear that we listen to our audiences and our complaints system has had a role in helping us to understand our audiences’ concerns.” He added: “The global look of the map naturally makes the bottom of the map appear slightly larger, but we now recognise that the perspective needs changing, and are responding.”
The new weather system will continue to take viewers on ‘tours’ of the nations and regions, and to show in clearer detail than before what the weather is doing - although the speed of these ‘tours’ had already been slowed down. Andrew Lane said: “The new technology has already led to more live forecasts than ever before, such as those on BBC News 24 and more frequent updates to the weather website. We are satisfied that overall, the system is providing more detailed and up-to-date analysis, particularly by zooming into the nations and regions.”
Mr Lane also addressed comments surrounding the colour of the map: “Although there have been some comments about the colour of the map, it is a key part of the new system and helps us to show detailed weather conditions to be shown over it.” The BBC also reiterated that there has been no change to the policy of showing wind speed and direction in its forecasts, when the wind is the main story. Forecasts are continuing to use this information and display isobars where they are helpful to viewers.
The new weather maps are the first major change to the look of BBC weather since 1985. No further changes are planned, but the BBC is continuing to monitor feedback and will later carry out further audience research. Although there have been concerns raised about the new weather map, audience research of 5,000 people showed that seven out of ten viewers either preferred the new weather system or liked it as much as the old forecasts.
Pete Wishart, SNP MP for North Tayside, said: “I’m delighted the BBC has responded so positively to the many representations we have all received on the relative size of Scotland on the new weather map. Scotland requires reliable and accurate weather forecasts and I’m confident this can be secured now we have regained our rightful size.”
on May 28th, 2005 at 16:08
The BBC wastes £1m on gimmickry to provide a stupid roller-coaster view of a dumbed down weather forecast. At the same time it’s planning massive cuts in news and current affairs budgets.
As the BBC has clearly abandoned any remaining vestiges of its public service role, it should also abandon its right to levy a compulsory tax on all viewers. Quantity of viewers is deemed paramount rather than quality of programmes, so it should be financed by subscription.
But the fat cats have blocked that. Am I the only one to notice how they’ve quietly made sure that most DTT boxes don’t have decoder slots and that their satellite channels are now unencrypted? They know the licence fee cannot be justified - so they’re determined to keep it by stealth !
on May 28th, 2005 at 19:25
The lack of, or inclusion of, a CI slot in a UK DTT box is up to the manufacturer. After the shambles that was On Digital/ITV Digital, Freeview was intended to be free to air - the clue is in the name - that another company came along and decided to offer subscription services was nothing to do with the BBC, or any of the other Freeview partners. As for being free to air on Sat, well I only wish all European Broadcasters were in a position to do the same. Personally I see it as an advantage not something to gripe about.
on May 29th, 2005 at 06:25
I think this has been a good example of where a broadcaster improves its systems across the board, but perhaps is so caught up in the internal advantages, that the “consumers’” end isn’t given the attention it should have. It’s always important for us in the industry to remember just how the listener or viewer will only get a narrow slice of the information and context knowledge that those processing the information (the programme maker) gets.
Plus it was ridiculous making Scotland so small in the first place, and someone should have felt able to raise it before the system was finalised!
on Jan 24th, 2011 at 14:34
Why oh why has the land disappeared from the tv (red button access} Forecast maps on TV. Is this in anticipation of global warming???