10:04 17May2005 Change in the weather sparks storm at the BBC

LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - Storm clouds gathered over the BBC on
Tuesday after it received scores of complaints about new graphics it
uses for television weather forecasts.
Underlining how Britons like nothing better than talking about the
weather, viewers bombarded a BBC Web site complaining about the
graphics, which replace the old stationary "cloud" and "rain" symbols
with shadow sweeping across the country and a bird's eye camera which
zooms in on different regions.
Many said the new format was confusing and some complained that by
trying the show the curve of the earth's surface, the BBC had made it
difficult to see what was going on in Scotland and northern England.
Others complained that the BBC had turned England's green and
pleasant land a muddy shade of brown.
"Appalling. What an absolute mess," wrote one viewer, Jim from
Glasgow. "Even my 11 year-old daughter thought it was awful and she
loves weather programmes."
Another viewer, Ann Walker, from Stratford-on-Avon in central
England said: "My husband who suffers from vertigo found the constant
movement made him feel quite dizzy."
Danny Vallance, from Ayr, was also offended.
"Coming from Scotland, I am obviously very disappointed in the
slanting map which gives England and Wales precedence," he wrote.
The BBC defended its new graphics, saying people always complained
about change and would get used to the new format.
Some viewers, however, welcomed the change. "Brilliant! I love them.
Well done the BBC," wrote Mark Riley from London.
"Who cares about Scotland?," he added. "It is always raining there
anyway."

Tuesday, 17 May 2005 10:04:53RTRS [nL17525434] {C}ENDS