BBC will offer 24 Olympics channels to TV viewers

THE BBC will allow viewers to access live, high definition coverage of every Olympic sport from TV sets, it was revealed yesterday.

Corporation chiefs originally said the BBC’S 24 live ‘streams’ – providing rolling coverage of every event – would be only online.

But yesterday the BBC announced it will run the service on satellite and cable services.

Subscribers will be able to access the 24 HD Olympics channels, as well as the same 24 channels in standard definition, for the duration of the Games.

This is the first time UK viewers have been offered such comprehensive Olympics coverage, meaning it is possible to spend the day following an event, in addition to highlights on BBC One and BBC Three, the main Olympics channels.

However, those with Freeview will get only two additional channels showing live coverage because of limited capacity.

Viewers will be able to access the additional channels through the BBC’S red button service and through the programme guide.

In total, the BBC will deliver around 2,500 hours of live sport during the Games.

Roger Mosey, director of BBC London 2012, said: ‘We’re delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to cable and satellite providers to extend our online service to millions of TV viewers across the UK.’