MetService has sold a homegrown television weather graphics package to the BBC, in a multimillion-dollar deal.
The package - Weatherscape XT - is the latest version of software developed by the MetService using 3D animation and graphics.
Chief executive John Lumsden said NZ beat competition from Europe and North America to close the deal, which was a huge sale.
"That the world's leading weather broadcaster has chosen MetService staff and products to update its weather presentation is a real endorsement of our people and their skills," he said yesterday.
The BBC would use the software for all its national and regional channels, as well as BBC World and its internet site.
Mr Lumsden would not reveal exact figures in a highly competitive market, but said the six-year deal was worth "several million".
Network Nine in Australia and stations in Europe, Dubai, Turkey, Beirut, Saudi Arabia and Asia already used the New Zealand-made software, said Mr Lumsden, and further negotiations were in the pipeline.
MetService had just hired a further five staff to add to a team of seven to develop ever-more sophisticated graphics.
"One of the things about this deal, we hope, is that having been selected by the British Broadcasting Corporation and having a good product, that will be a good incentive for other broadcasters to use it," he said.
"The world is full of television stations and most of them show weather, so we think there's a big world out there for us."
Mr Lumsden would not put a sum on the total investment made in the graphics developments.
But he said: "The original software development has well and truly paid for itself, and we've got great hopes for this new version, Weatherscape XT ."
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Mark Burton hailed the deal as a huge achievement and further proof of New Zealand's innovation, creativity and technical prowess in the wake of The Lord of the Rings.
The graphics are already used on One News weather.
- NZPA
BBC buys NZ-made weather graphics
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.