Wellington, Jan 18 NZPA - Dissatisfaction within the BBC at inaccurate forecasting by the British Met Office could be an opportunity for this country's MetService.

According to reports in Britain, the Met Office contract with the BBC runs out in April and the broadcaster had started talks with MetService's commercial arm Metra as a possible alternative.

Last July, Met Office predictions for a "barbecue summer" turned into a washout. Then last week it failed to predict heavy snowfall in southeast England, The Times Online reported.

A spokesman for State Owned Enterprises Minister Simon Power said Mr Power was aware MetService was involved in a bid to provide some services to the BBC.