Some years ago, I wrote to the head of BBC regarding the punctuality and ‘clarity’ of the weather bulletins they were putting out at self-imposed specified times to fit in with the reader at the Norwich BBC weather centre. I was told that I could fill out a complaints form…
At the time, BBC Suffolk gave out the forecast including the coastal (N) at around 10 to 0700, 0800, 0900, 1800 and 1900. BBC Kent were placed at 5 minutes past the hour along same/similar times. BBC Essex fitted in at 5 to the hours given. All at very useful times.
During the late 1990’s and into the first decade of this millennium, BBC Essex ran the Thames Estuary forecast; Suffolk, one for ‘off’ Harwich with a northerly addition if different along the upper Suffolk coast (which is relatively short) and Kent, bless them, has always tended to or do give the Inshore Waters Forecast from the N. Foreland to Selsey Bill … since most ‘Kent’ sailors sail along the northern side of that county, that seems ‘daft’ … and aboard Whimbrel, when in Kent waters, Essex with the Thames estuary forecast was listened to, which was perfectly acceptable.
Latterly, BBC Essex has now moved to 3 minutes to the hour. Where Kent sits I quite frankly don’t currently know. The north coast of Kent gets very similar weather to the south of Essex so ‘we’ don’t worry. I’ll be interested to see what has happened up in Suffolk when next in their waters.
Sometimes it is probably better to actually ‘sniff’ the air…
In more recent times with the 3 minutes to the hour forecast from BBC Essex, one is met with a continuance of the diatribe from the programme content, very often, until time runs short or there isn’t sufficient for the slot to happen. Additionally, when the forecast is given, it invariably comes as the Inshore Waters, which covers the area Gibraltar Point (North side of Wash) to the N. Foreland – a huge area! It is often called the ‘coastal’ but clearly isn’t when later looking up on the BBC web site.
Since I communicated with BBC Essex the service, which is supposedly a Public Service, has fallen into lamentable disrepair and I have virtually abandoned the listening to local radio as a result (never mind the incessant physco-babel that emanates).
Interestingly, some weeks ago before Christmas 2018, I saw a piece in the Saturday edition of the Times newspaper headed, ‘Local Radio takes a hit as more listeners switch off’ – well what a surprise!
The BBC Essex figures have dropped from 236, 000 to 160, 000 over the past five years. This household being one if not two of them!
Clarity and brevity are important too in the issuing of these forecasts. I can well remember on BBC Essex a ‘telling off’ being given to a co-presenter by the other (senior?) when the reading of the details was interrupted … the transgressor was told in no uncertain term that the information was important and that people relied on it. That ethos has died!
What isn’t appreciated by the presenters and production staff is that not everyone has a smart phone and can dial up instant info, and not all listeners sit within the signal strength to be able to do so. That is especially relevant to the coastal seafarer.
Yes, there are other methods of gathering the information – Coast Guard broadcasts – but not always conveniently slotted.
I wonder how much of the switch-off is due to ‘dumping’ of the public service elements along with the ‘clap-trap’ one is hit with now?