The Met Office has lost its BBC weather forecasting contract after almost a century, the broadcast company has confirmed.
The Met has provided data for BBC forecasts since their first ever weather bulletin in 1922.
However, the BBC has now opened up the contract to foreign competition, including firms from The Netherlands and New Zealand. The new replacement will be expected to take over from next year.
A BBC spokesperson explained that the broadcasters are legally obliged to deliver the best value for money for the taxpayer and that they believed alternate providers would be in a better position to do so.
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They 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 strongest bids to make sure we secure both the best possible service and value for money for the licence fee payer.”
In a statement issued by the BBC, 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.”
The news has sparked concern as to what can replace the Met Office’s trusted forecasts. Social media users have taken to Twitter to express their shock at the news and suggest replacements for the company.
1/Extremely alarmed by rumours BBC to drop UK Met Office in favour of foreign weather forecaster. Vital 90 year old strategic relationship.
— Ben Bradshaw (@BenPBradshaw) August 21, 2015
If the BBC don't get their weather from the Met Office, how will they get it? Some bloke licking his finger and sticking it out the window?
— Scottieboy (@merseytart) August 23, 2015
I'm glad the BBC have sacked the Met Office, we've had some awful weather recently.
— Moose Allain (@MooseAllain) August 23, 2015
It is understood that the Met will continue to provide severe weather warnings for the BBC.
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