Why do BBC factual programmes use kilometres instead of miles?

[TTG]

In the recent tv programmes 'The Human Planet' and 'Stargazing Live', the presenters/narrators use kilometres as a measure of distance.

I've noticed this in a lot of recent factual programmes. Why are kilometres used as I am sure using miles would make more sense to it's target audience i.e. the UK?

"The river is 527 kilometres long". He might as well have said "The lake is long".

[bibblebub]

You're showing your age.

[jake-the-peg]

Because the metric system is the international system of Science

We've been teaching the metric system in schools now at least since the 70's when I was measuring corridors with meter sticks and centimeter rulers

[boxtops]

Surely, to make them marketable worldwide, too.

[milly143]

I wondered exactly the same thing when watching Human Planet last night. It was a BBC programme, aimed at a UK audience and I thougth it was odd that they used kilometers instead of miles. I thought it might be because saying it in kilometers makes it sound bigger/longer.

[piggynose]

are you american ttg?, because the metric system´s been in place here in the uk since the early 70´s

[boxtops]

Yeah piggy, but those of us born in a certain era can't fathom it in it big numbers. I can do 2.2 cms = 1 inch, or a metre is nearly the same as a yard, but after that I'm stuffed.

[bibblebub]

If he had said that it's 327 miles long then what difference would that make? I don't have regular experience of such distances so it would still be just a number to me.

[The-HouseHusband]

Because Kilometres work on the Base 10/Decimal system which the whole world (apart from some people in the UK) can easily work with. Our monetary system has been decimalised for years and I for one would welcome the change over to the use of KM on the UK road network. Foreign speedometers are not required to have MPH marked on them which is one of the reasons that the police struggle to prosecute them for speeding. UK spec vehicles on the other hand must display both MPH & KPH, leaving us open to prosecution when travelling abroad.

Welcome to the 21st Century

[bibblebub]

I've just worked out that I walked well over 100 million inches last year. Since that is in imperial I'm sure it won't take a calculator to work out the distance involved.

[whiskeryron]

I don't know what it's like now but some years ago I had a travelling holiday in Ireland & I was amused that their main road speed limits were in Kms but each little village was marked speed limit 30mph.

[jno]

because the BBC try to sell their porgrammes abroad. This is to appease people like RebelSouls who get outraged at having to pay for the BBC themselves.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes the Irish decided not to change all the signs wholesale when they wen over as it would have been expensive.

So signs in white are Miles and those in green are Km

Seems to work well

[squarebear]

The metric system has been in use here for about 40 years. Have you still not got to grips with it?

[Invictas]

I agree with you TTG,
We are still(for measurements etc) a no Metric country.
I am a bit obsessive over this.I fling off emails to TV companies whenever they quote kilometres,metres etc,but to no avail.
What I want to know is,road signs are not in Kilometres etc so why do the TV companies think we have changed(it;s trying to get in by the back door if you ask me).

[squarebear]

"I am a bit obsessive over this.I fling off emails to TV companies whenever they quote kilometres,metres etc,but to no avail. "

What response are you expecting? I may complain that the financial programmes no longer talk about groats. Time moves on, move with it.

[Invictas]

piggy,Since when do road signs in the UK have KM on them?

[squarebear]

They don't as this would only confuse the already confused who still work in barleycorns and cubits.

[WELSHYORKIE]

Box - it's 2.54cm = 1 inch . The 2.2 figure is lbs to kgs !!

[gingejbee]

The REALLY annoying trait is to give info. in BOTH metric and imperial at the same time, eg we've had 30mm of rain - that's an inch and a quarter, this trains going at 200km/hr - that's 125 miles/hr, and (of course) temperatures in C and F. Do we really need to make things more difficult than it needs to be? Are the British public really this dim?

[squarebear]

Judging by this post, yes. Some people just can't understand metric measurements.