BBC to offer 3000+ hours of Olympics coverage
May 27, 2016
BBC One and BBC Four will broadcast 550 hours of action alongside extensive coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website. In a repeat of the 2012 digital offering, up to 24 HD streams will also deliver every moment to fans whenever they want, wherever they are across mobile, tablet, desktop, connected TV and gaming devices.
Hazel Irvine, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, Clare Balding and Jason Mohammad will be at the helm of BBC One’s coverage, which kicks off with the Opening Ceremony on August 5th. They will steer audiences through the live action each day from 13.00 to 04.00 until the Closing Ceremony on August 21st. Over on BBC Four, Dan Walker and Ore Oduba will present the live action daily from 13.00 to 04.00.
On Radio 5 live, presenters Eleanor Oldroyd, Mark Chapman, Mark Pougatch, Russell Fuller, Caroline Barker and former Olympic Champion Jonathan Edwards will lead listeners through all the drama from Rio. Starting at noon every day, the station will bring live action, latest news and all the magical moments of the 2016 Games.
BBC Sport’s digital service in 2016 will bring every moment of the Olympics to audiences, with over 2,500 hours of live action across 24 live HD video streams available on the BBC Sport website, app and on Red Button+. Up to eight live streams will also be available via the ever-popular Red Button too – meaning fans will be able to watch their favourite sports wherever they are, on whatever device they like.
Alongside the latest news and live pages, the BBC Sport website will also have highlights and replays of those not-to-be-missed moments. The Olympics Playlist, a downloadable catch-up programme will also be available to view every morning on BBC iPlayer. On the iPlayer radio app, fans will be able to listen again to 5 live’s Olympic Breakfast 30-minute round-up, which will be available as a DRM download.
Fans will also be able to personalise their Rio 2016 experience within the BBC Sport website and app. ‘My Sport’ will enable audiences to follow the sports they like most, signing up for the latest news alerts, setting event reminders and sharing their favourite moments across social media.
Across its range of social media accounts BBC Sport will give fans a chance to get even closer to the BBC’s coverage, presenters and special guests, with exclusive behind-the-scenes access.
Director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater, says: “The BBC’s coverage of London 2012 was the most watched TV event in UK broadcasting history and we are committed to bringing the same high quality, in-depth coverage to Rio 2016. The incredible offering across all our platforms will deliver every moment of the Games through a truly interactive, personalised experience, while at the same time fully immersing audiences in this iconic sporting event just as we were so proud to do four years ago.”