TV Weather Hobart

The announcer for Channel 2 is an officer of the A.B.C. Rural Department and the programme is presented at 7.25 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7.15 p.m. Saturday, but not on Sunday.

The commentator on week nights (Monday to Friday) on Channel 6 is a station announcer who is an ex R.A.A.F. Officer. The presentation is given at 6.55 p.m.

The introduction of the "Official Weather Report" on 1st July, 1961 did not materially alter the arrangements for these presentations. Charts supplied with the documentation in the OWR consist of the 3 p.m. synoptic chart for Australia, a significant weather sketch map of Tasmania and. when necessary, a Southern Ocean synoptic chart. In general, the charted information is transferred to fixed maps in the studio display system.

Recently the presentation on Channel 6 on Saturday and Sunday evenings has been an interesting variant of the dual type of programme the Duty Meteorologist giving the commentary by telephone line from the Divisional Office, using a monitoring TV received to coordinate his remarks with the pictures which consists of two charts, a printer summary of other capital city temperatures, and the warnings and forecasts for Tasmania and the Hobart area.

The pictures are static and are not demonstrated by any studio personnel, but the illusion of movement is added by the inclusion of an introductory sound film clip, lasting some 12 seconds, showing the Duty Forecaster seated at his chart desk and making some general remarks. A number of such films will be made for each of the four Meteorologists concerned, attired in clothing appropriate to the day, and the judicious changes of these films should preserve the illusion of immediacy for some months to come as the transition from filmed segment to the day's commentary is affected very smoothly.

The commentary itself lasts from 3 to 5 minutes according to the situation and consists of—

1. discussion of the general synoptic situation and main features of the weather over Australia—including significant occurrences;
2. review of significant features of Tasmanian weather and the controlling influences;
3. the capital city temperatures for other Australian States, including variations from normal and brief reasons therefore; and
4. elaboration of the Tasmanian and Hobart area warnings and forecasts with explanations.

This type of presentation has been well received by Tasmanian viewers and its success will probably lead to proposals from the station TVT-6 for its extension to week nights.

Bureau of Meteorology