Don't forget , though, that the BBC Weather site is primarily for UK
residents and by and large mph and deg C are used most often (although deg F
tends to get more popular in the summer).
I think you'll find that their main page is the "default" page rather than
the "metric" page.
From: Pat Naughtin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:35581] Re: New BBC web site
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 20:23:41 +1100
Dear Ezra,
When you write to the BBC, will you be sure to quote this line to them:
As a public service broadcaster, the BBC must cater for both systems to try
and ensure, as far as possible, no section of our audience is alienated.
I have highlighted the reference below!
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216
Geelong, Australia
61 3 5241 2008
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.metricationmatters.com
On 6/01/06 7:57 PM, "Ezra Steinberg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I just noticed that the BBC has revamped the look of its web site. In
general,
> I say it is a cleaner look that is easier to navigate.
>
> I checked out their weather page. They give the temperatures by default
in
> Celsius but give you a link to view the temps in Fahrenheit. They also
have a
> FAQ page where they explain their policy on this:
>
> Celsius v Fahrenheit
> Responsibility for the general replacement of the imperial measures
(such as
> Fahrenheit) with metric (Celsius) rests with successive Governments, who
> decided that the country should shift to the metric system.
>
> Imperial measurements, however, are not excluded from our broadcasts
because
> there are still a great many people who are only familiar with the
imperial
> system. As a public service broadcaster, the BBC must cater for both
systems
> to try and ensure, as far as possible, no section of our audience is
> alienated. The general rule for weather is that we show Celsius values
on our
> graphics, but also give equivalent Fahrenheit figures verbally when they
are
> unusual for the time of year or significant in some other way.
>
> The odd thing I noticed was that on either page the barometric pressure
was
> given in millibars only and the wind speed in miles per hour only. I
actually
> would prefer that the Celsius page give everything in metric (including
> pressure in kilopascals) and may write them to request this.
>
> Ezra
>
