Two for BBC watchers
Feb 12, 2012
Bishop Hill in BBC, Climate: Statistics

A couple of interesting articles for BBC watchers.

Firstly this update from the Independent on the story about BBC Worldwide accepting programming from environmental groups for free. The BBC is to issue an apology.

The BBC will today apologise to an estimated 74 million people around the world for a news fixing scandal, exposed by The Independent, in which it broadcast documentaries made by a London TV company that was earning millions of pounds from PR clients which it featured in its programming.

Secondly there is an update on the BBC's project to measure the performance of different weather forecasters.

A row between weathermen threatens to wreck a BBC-funded project to test the accuracy of Britain’s weather forecasts.

The study, estimated to have cost tens of thousands of pounds of licence fee payers’ money, has been devised by the BBC’s senior environment analyst, Roger Harrabin.

But seven of the eight forecasters and bodies asked to take part have not agreed, with two blaming Mr Harrabin for undermining the study’s credibility, claiming that his reputation is tarnished by his close links to green groups who believe in man-made climate change.

The Mail says that "Harrabin has accepted money from green groups". This is ambiguous, and it needs to be made clear that there is no suggestion he benefited personally from the Cambridge Media and Environment Programme.  As for the weather forecast project, it would be a pity to lose it - I reckon it would demonstrate that nobody can forecast beyond three or four days.

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