MeteoGroup
A European private-sector weather forecasting and meteorological services company.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
MeteoGroup was a European private-sector weather forecasting and information company founded in the Netherlands in 1986 as Meteo Consult B.V. by Harry Otten, a Dutch television weather presenter. It developed at a time when the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute held a dominant position in the Dutch weather market and private companies faced restricted access to meteorological data and forecasting models. Meteo Consult campaigned for fairer access to public meteorological resources and for greater openness in the weather-services market. That policy environment helped create room for a commercial provider serving both media organizations and business customers. The company expanded beyond Dutch forecasting during the early 1990s. Its activities grew into marine weather services, including the development of a vessel-routing system known as SPOS. Developed with an international energy and petrochemical company for shipping applications, SPOS became one of the company’s most important specialist offerings and was installed on more than 2,000 vessels according to the reference material. Meteo Consult also began building a European operating network. A German joint venture was established in Berlin in 1993 and was replaced by the wholly owned MC-Wetter subsidiary in 1998. The company acquired a majority interest in Belgian weather provider Meteo Services in 1996, created a UK joint venture with the Press Association in 1997, and acquired a majority interest in Berlin-based weather-graphics specialist MeteoGraphics in 1998. In May 2005, the PA Group acquired a majority shareholding in Meteo Consult. The transaction built on the companies’ UK relationship and combined Meteo Consult’s meteorological capabilities with the Press Association’s information-distribution and media expertise. In September 2006, the group adopted MeteoGroup as its common international brand, while Meteo Consult continued to be used as a legacy operating name. Further country operations were established in Spain, Poland, Sweden, France, Italy and the United States. The company also launched MeteoGroup Singapore in 2012 to serve shipping and offshore customers in Southeast Asia. MeteoGroup’s portfolio covered weather forecasting, meteorological consulting, visualization, weather routing, oceanographic information and digital consumer products. Its commercial customers included transport operators, shipping and offshore companies, agriculture, energy businesses and media organizations. Consumer-facing products included the WeatherPro and MeteoEarth applications, as well as Magical Weather. In 2011, MeteoGroup acquired Ireland-based Nowcasting International, strengthening its offshore forecasting and technology capabilities. In 2013, it acquired Swiss-German weather company mminternational (Europe) AG, expanding its international footprint to 14 countries and nearly 400 employees, with reported combined annual turnover above €50 million at the time. General Atlantic acquired MeteoGroup in 2013. In 2018, the company changed ownership again when it was acquired by TBG AG, a Zurich-based private investment firm. That year MeteoGroup became the BBC’s weather-services supplier after the BBC put the contract out to tender, replacing the UK Met Office. The change generated public criticism from some observers who argued that forecast performance had declined, although the supplier relationship was commercial rather than evidence of a formal finding of service failure. In November 2019, TBG integrated MeteoGroup into its other weather-services company, the United States-based DTN. MeteoGroup was consequently rebranded as DTN, with DTN’s European headquarters established in Utrecht. The MeteoGroup brand therefore ceased to operate as an independent business brand, although parts of its technology, personnel and customer operations continued within DTN.
History
MeteoGroup originated as Meteo Consult B.V., established in the Netherlands in 1986 by Harry Otten, a television weather presenter. It was among the early European companies to build a private business around meteorological forecasting and related information services. Its emergence challenged a market in which the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute had a powerful institutional position and private firms had limited access to important data and forecasting models. Meteo Consult advocated equal access to essential meteorological resources and a more open commercial weather market. The company subsequently developed customers in both broadcast media and business sectors. During the early 1990s, Meteo Consult expanded internationally and added marine weather services. It worked with a major international energy and petrochemical company on a shipboard weather-routing product. This system became SPOS, a proprietary platform that grew into a leading maritime routing service and was installed on more than 2,000 vessels according to the supplied reference material. The company’s first business outside the Netherlands was a German joint venture formed in Berlin in 1993. When that arrangement ended in 1998, it was replaced by the wholly owned MC-Wetter subsidiary. European expansion continued through a Belgian investment in 1996, a UK joint venture with the Press Association in 1997, and the 1998 acquisition of a majority interest in MeteoGraphics. The latter business specialized in weather visualization and was also based in Berlin. These transactions broadened Meteo Consult beyond forecast production into graphics, packaging and delivery of weather information for media and professional customers. In May 2005, the PA Group acquired a majority shareholding in Meteo Consult. The deal built on the successful UK joint venture, which combined Meteo Consult’s meteorological expertise with the Press Association’s capabilities in information distribution. In September 2006, the company adopted MeteoGroup as its shared international brand. Meteo Consult remained in use as an operating identity, accompanied by the description “A MeteoGroup Company.” New operations followed in Spain in 2006, Poland and Sweden in 2007, France in 2009, the United States in 2010 and Italy in 2011. In 2012, MeteoGroup Singapore was launched to serve Southeast Asian shipping and offshore customers. The company also expanded through acquisitions and specialist technology. In May 2011, it bought Nowcasting International, an Ireland-based business focused on offshore weather-forecasting technology. The acquired capabilities were incorporated into MeteoGroup Offshore. In September 2013, MeteoGroup acquired mminternational (Europe) AG, a Swiss-German weather company. The transaction was reported to have extended the group’s operations to 14 countries, nearly 400 employees and combined annual turnover of more than €50 million. MeteoGroup was acquired by General Atlantic in 2013. The company’s service portfolio covered general forecasting, sector-specific consulting, weather visualization, marine and offshore intelligence, oceanographic data, transport information, media services and consumer applications. Its products included SPOS, WeatherPro, MeteoEarth and Magical Weather. The group served sectors whose operations were sensitive to weather conditions, including shipping, offshore energy, transport, agriculture, energy and broadcasting. MeteoGroup became the BBC’s weather-services supplier on 6 February 2018 after the BBC put the service out to tender, replacing the UK Met Office. Some public commentators questioned the accuracy of forecasts after the change, but the available reference material does not establish a formal scandal or adjudicated finding of misconduct. Later in 2018, TBG AG acquired MeteoGroup. In November 2019, TBG integrated the company into DTN, another weather-services business owned by TBG. MeteoGroup was rebranded as DTN and its Utrecht operation became DTN’s European headquarters. The independent MeteoGroup brand therefore became defunct, with its business activities absorbed into DTN.
- 2019
MeteoGroup is integrated into DTN
[1]TBG AG merged the business into DTN and ended MeteoGroup’s operation as an independent brand.
- 2018
MeteoGroup becomes BBC Weather supplier
[1]The BBC selected MeteoGroup to provide weather services after a procurement process.
- 2018
TBG AG acquires MeteoGroup
[1]TBG AG acquired the weather-services company.
- 2013
mminternational is acquired
[1]The Swiss-German acquisition broadened MeteoGroup’s international network and operating scale.
- 2013
General Atlantic acquires MeteoGroup
[1]General Atlantic became the company’s financial owner.
- 2012
Singapore operation launches
[1]The company entered Southeast Asia with an operation initially serving shipping and offshore markets.
- 2011
Nowcasting International is acquired
[1]The acquisition added offshore forecasting technology and became part of MeteoGroup Offshore.
- 2010
United States office opens
[1]MeteoGroup expanded into the United States with the launch of MeteoGroup USA.
- 2006
MeteoGroup brand is introduced
[1]The business unified its international operations under the MeteoGroup name.
- 2005
PA Group takes a majority shareholding
[1]The Press Association Group acquired majority control of Meteo Consult.
Products and positioning
A specialist, data-driven private weather-services provider combining meteorological forecasting with sector-specific decision support, visualization and digital products.
Maritime weather routing
SPOS
SPOS was MeteoGroup’s proprietary vessel weather-routing system. Developed during the company’s expansion into marine services, it used meteorological information to support route planning and operational decisions for ships. The supplied reference describes it as a market-leading system installed on more than 2,000 vessels worldwide.
Consumer weather application
WeatherPro
WeatherPro was one of MeteoGroup’s consumer-facing weather applications. It formed part of the company’s digital portfolio alongside MeteoEarth and Magical Weather, extending MeteoGroup’s activities beyond professional forecasting and enterprise services.
Interactive weather application
MeteoEarth
MeteoEarth was an interactive weather application in MeteoGroup’s consumer portfolio. It presented weather information through a visual, geographically oriented interface and complemented the company’s professional visualization capabilities.
Consumer weather application
Magical Weather
Magical Weather was part of MeteoGroup’s portfolio of consumer weather applications. The available reference identifies it as a branded digital weather product but does not provide sufficient detail about its features, launch date or later ownership.
Offshore meteorological and oceanographic services · 2011
MeteoGroup Offshore
MeteoGroup Offshore was a dedicated division supplying meteorological and oceanographic products and services to offshore customers. It incorporated capabilities from Nowcasting International after that company was acquired in 2011 and supported the marine, energy and offshore sectors.
Brand decisions
2019
Integrate MeteoGroup into DTNM&ABackground
After TBG AG acquired both MeteoGroup and DTN, the owner had the opportunity to consolidate the two weather-services businesses.
Action taken
In November 2019, TBG AG integrated MeteoGroup into DTN and rebranded the business as DTN.
Aftermath
MeteoGroup ceased operating as an independent brand, while DTN established its European headquarters in Utrecht.
2018
Provide weather services to the BBCOtherBackground
The BBC put its weather-services provision out to tender, ending the previous supplier relationship with the UK Met Office.
Action taken
MeteoGroup won the procurement process and became the BBC’s weather-services supplier in February 2018.
Aftermath
Some commentators questioned forecast accuracy after the change. The available material does not establish a formal finding of wrongdoing or a proven service failure.
2013
Acquire mminternational (Europe) AGM&ABackground
MeteoGroup sought to increase its international scale and strengthen its position in the European weather-services market.
Action taken
The company acquired Swiss-German weather provider mminternational (Europe) AG.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the group’s stated operations to 14 countries and nearly 400 employees.
Combined annual turnover. more than €50 million (2013)
2006
Unify the operating businesses under the MeteoGroup brandStrategyBackground
Meteo Consult had expanded through multiple country operations, ventures and specialist businesses, creating a need for a common international identity.
Action taken
The company rebranded the group as MeteoGroup while retaining Meteo Consult as a legacy operating name in certain contexts.
Aftermath
The unified brand supported subsequent expansion into additional European, American and Southeast Asian markets.
Recent events
- 2025
BBC returns weather-service provision to the Met Office[1]
Other
The Met Office was reinstated as the BBC’s weather-service provider under an arrangement described as being made in the public-service interest, ending the period that began with MeteoGroup’s 2018 appointment.
- 2019
MeteoGroup is integrated into DTN[1]
M&A · Leadership change
TBG AG integrated MeteoGroup into DTN in November 2019. The business was rebranded as DTN and Utrecht became DTN’s European headquarters.
- 2018
MeteoGroup becomes BBC Weather supplier[1]
Other
Following a competitive procurement process, the BBC selected MeteoGroup to provide weather services, replacing the UK Met Office as its supplier.
- 2018
TBG AG acquires MeteoGroup[1]
M&A
Zurich-based private investment firm TBG AG acquired MeteoGroup and subsequently aligned it with its DTN weather-services business.
- 2013
MeteoGroup acquires mminternational (Europe)[1]
M&A
The purchase of the Swiss-German weather company expanded MeteoGroup’s presence to 14 countries and increased its workforce and international operating scale.
- 2013
General Atlantic acquires MeteoGroup[1]
M&A
Private-equity investor General Atlantic acquired MeteoGroup as the company continued expanding its commercial weather-information activities.
- 2012
MeteoGroup launches Singapore operation[1]
Other
MeteoGroup established a Singapore operation focused initially on shipping and offshore weather products for Southeast Asian markets.
- 2011
MeteoGroup acquires Nowcasting International[1]
M&A
The acquisition of the Ireland-based offshore-weather technology company expanded MeteoGroup’s capabilities in offshore forecasting and oceanographic services.
- 2006
Meteo Consult is rebranded as MeteoGroup[1]
Other
The company brought its operating businesses together under the MeteoGroup brand while retaining Meteo Consult as a legacy name in parts of the organization.
- 2005
PA Group acquires majority stake in Meteo Consult[1]
M&A
The Press Association Group acquired a majority shareholding in Meteo Consult, extending a pre-existing UK joint venture and adding meteorological services to its broader information-services portfolio.
Sources1 sources
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