09 February 2006

In December Metra launched a new weather show for Irish language channel TG4, keeping TG4's weather bulletins at the forefront in providing a distinctive and alternative source of weather information for the Irish audience.

Alan Esslemont, TG4's Director of Television says "Our style of programming and presentation tries to be visual to attract the broadest possible audience. Feedback from both viewers and our presenters since we went on air with Metra has been superb.Metra met our budget guidelines and provided the best weather package available anywhere for our needs."

TG4's new look graphics are move away from icon-based forecasting and using Metra's latest Weatherscape XTTM weather graphics technology to represent the weather. The Real Time software enables the very latest weather to go to air within minutes of new data becoming available.

TG4's weather forecast aims to give a distinctive and alternative source of weather information to the Irish audience. Accuracy of information is the key focus for their bulletins, represented by strong visuals, which clearly and simply tell the weather story over a period of time.

Mr Esslemont says "The weather forecasts are very visual and tell their own story. Facing the Atlantic, weather forecasting is very important to Irish people's daily life and the accuracy of the new service is remarkable."

The new TG4 weather shows, presented by Dáithí Ó Sé, Aoife Ní Thuairisg and Sinéad Ní Loideáin, include information on:

• Cloud, Rain & Sunshine over 36 hour timeline

• Wind, Temperatures & Sea states data over 36 hour timeline

• Specific point-in-time information for nationwide towns and cities.

Specialist bulletins include:

• Fishing Forecast at 6:58pm, (including information on tide times and fishing ports.)

• Travel Forecast, (after midnight) which includes information on Irish airports & ferry ports and on main European & US destinations.

The on screen bulletins are supported by a weather service on the TG4 website: http://www.tg4.ie/aimsir/.

TG4 weather shows broadcast at:

• lunchtime

• 6:58 (pre news)

• 7:25 (post news)

• evening schedule: 9pm

• after midnight