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BBC weathermen told: End fog over Jersey
29 Jul 2010The BBC should bring an end to "forecast discrimination" by putting Jersey back on its weather map, the island's tourism authority said today.
A petition was launched in a campaign that is also calling for more accurate weather forecasts.
Jersey Tourism claims incorrect temperature predictions are causing local businesses to lose out on millions of pounds of revenue from missed visitors.
The island was only mentioned in 10% of BBC weather forecasts in a month, according to research by Jersey Tourism.
And Jersey was given a temperature marker in only 30% of forecasts, with its local weather mentioned specifically in only 5%, the research showed.
A Jersey Tourism spokesman added that the weather was incorrectly reported in 24 out of 26 forecasts in national newspapers.
David de Carteret, director of Jersey Tourism, said: "Jersey has more sunshine hours than anywhere in the British Isles and we think that being excluded does us a disservice.
"Many people don't have any idea just how lovely the weather is a short hop away from the mainland and for that reason wouldn't consider holidaying in the island, meaning that we lose out on a considerable sum of valuable income."
He said the petition has so far been signed by more than 1,000 people.
A BBC spokeswoman said that its maps regularly show the island and they can zoom in on the area if there is a "significant" weather event.
She said: "The Channel Islands are clearly visible on the UK-wide weather map used in all network BBC weather forecasts and when the weather is significant we do have the option to zoom into the Channel Islands as we sweep across the map.
"Temperature indicators are regularly added to the wide UK map for the Channel Islands on TV forecasts.
"We always welcome audience feedback - we endeavour to be as inclusive as possible with our weather forecasts and we are confident that we are using the best source of forecast data, which we obtain from the Met Office."
A spokesman for the UK Met Office said: "We do not put Jersey on the Met Office pages because it has its own meteorological service.
"The BBC does cover Jersey and that information does come from us but they create their own maps."
Residents of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have to pay for the TV licence like other UK residents.
The free TV licence for the over-75s in the UK is only available on Jersey to people on a low income.
Reader views (2)
Jersey has 0.15% of the UK population.
Why should BBC weather subsidise the advertising budget of Jersey Tourism?
- Paul, London, 30/07/2010 13:55
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I think getting John Nettle to do another detective series would do the tourism more good than the weatherman given them a few lines.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 29/07/2010 19:25
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