THE BBC EXPERIENCE
The Olympic Games has been one of the greatest sporting events across the globe, involving numerous countries and a vast number of participants. The long-awaited and highly anticipated event is expected to receive robust viewership, covering 302 events in 26 sports, and featuring over 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries.
This year, as the host nation broadcaster, BBC has TV, radio, online, mobile and iPlayer rights in the United Kingdom. In order to deliver full coverage for London 2012, BBC has planned various ways to deliver up-to-date news for its audience through multiple platforms which can be accessed at any point of the day. These platforms include the TV, radio, and online, which comprises four screens – the PC, mobile, tablet and connected TV (inclusive of smart TVs and game consoles). Two stations, BBC Radio 5 live and Radio 5 live Olympics Extra will be providing round-theclock commentary of all the ongoing action, live from competition venues throughout the UK. Through these platforms, all BBC viewers will be able to get live updates and firsthand news on all the sports and games that are of their interest.
The digital delivery of the games
BBC has asserted that for the first time, it will be providing live coverage of every Olympic Sport from every venue throughout the day. This translates to 2,500 hours of live sport coverage on the different BBC platforms from July 27 to August 12 through a combination of BBC One and BBC Three and up to 24 simultaneous streams live online, on PC, mobile, tablet or connected TV.
To ensure that the BBC delivers this promise, the broadcaster has made several arrangements for this massive project. They have employed 765 staff to cover London 2012, a significant increase from the 493 that were engaged for the Beijing Olympics. This is to ensure that there will be sufficient manpower to cover and deliver every sport as well as their news presentation, including 24-hour-a-day news on all platforms at home and abroad.
Roger Mosey, BBC Director of Manof- the-hour Roger Mosey, London 2012, is tasked to oversee the broadcast.
“We wanted to offer an unprecedented amount of live sporting action to the widest possible audience through these 24 live streams giving vastly more choice than ever before.”
These 24 live HD streams for online users and 24 channels for cable and satellite viewers will allow audiences to get live access of the games that are happening for the various sports that are occurring at the same time. Sky and Freesat have both confirmed that they will be taking feeds of the games using their satellites, making these 24 live simultaneous streams possible.
3D coverage
A selection of events will air in 3D. They are split into four sections, comprising of the following:
• The Olympic opening ceremony LIVE
• The men’s 100m final LIVE (5th August 2012)
• Nightly highlights in 3D
• The Olympic closing ceremony LIVE
“The BBC’s overall approach to 3D has been very much on the lines of an experiment around special events. The decision to limit 3D broadcast has been taken to ensure there was no interruption to live coverage of major events as well,” said Mosey.
The aim of the 3D showcase is not only to enhance the viewing experience, but to preserve and keep a record of the biggest moments of the 2012 Olympics as well.
Super Hi-Vision
Apart from 3D, BBC will be featuring selected footage in Super Hi-Vision, a format and technology developed by NHK that provides a picture quality 16 times the size of HDTV – a world first for the broadcast of the games. To showcase the Games in Super Hi-Vision, the BBC is working with partners to create three special Super Hi-Vision cinemas across the UK (Glasgow, Bradford and London).
Sports App
In keeping with the rapid involvement of content delivery and consumption, BBC has also launched a sports app, enabling people to have access to the Games while on the move. BBC has also developed an Olympics mobile browser. Similar to what viewers can get online and on TV, the mobile app and mobile browser provide users with access to all 2,500 hours of content and up to 24 simultaneous live events entirely in HD. Highlights of the best actions of the day will also be featured on the BBC Sports website which can be accessed via mobile.
“The London 2012 Olympic Games is likely to be the biggest sporting event in the UK in our lifetimes and the BBC’s coverage will ensure that our audiences need never miss a moment,” says Mosey.
THE ASIAN EXPERIENCE
ESPN STAR Sports is the official Asian Pay-TV broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Broadcasting in 22 countries across Asia, ESPN STAR Sports will offer over 3,800 hours of Olympic coverage over 15 channels, including a 3D channel and LIVE coverage on dedicated HD channels. In addition, the broadcaster has a suite of archival and original programming as a lead-up to the Games. Manu Sawhney, Managing Director of ESPN STAR Sports, said that while BBC has promised to broadcast “every minute of every sport”, ESPN STAR Sports will distinguish itself by adding an Asian focus to their broadcasting of the Games.
For instance, ESPN, the flagship channel and one of the 15 channels being offered to Asian viewers, is scheduled to broadcast top Olympic programmes daily, but with a special focus on athletes and events featuring Southeast Asia’s top contenders. Likewise, ESPNEWS, the broadcaster’s signature sports news channel, will provide viewers with 24-hour news updates on top stories and the latest events in London. The channel’s on-ground team of local and international reporters will present news and interviews, and like ESPN, focus on Southeast Asia’s top athletes and most popular events.
Viewers will not find their Olympic experience restricted to Asia, though. The Asian focus with which ESPN and ESPNEWS are set to operate will be balanced by STAR Sports. This channel will provide coverage of top athletes and events outside of what the Asian contingent comprises and is participating in. Apart from having a different slant to the presentation of the Games, this channel will also feature LIVE daily coverage.
Viewers can also look forward to ESPN STAR Sports’ original programming, Sports Center Espresso, a 30-minute morning show that features Games highlights and exclusive interviews. With presenters and reporters both in London and in Asia, ESPN STAR Sports aims to showcase a comprehensive look at the Games.
Technology
“The sports genre has led the way in the development of many broadcast innovations over the years, successfully exploiting new broadcast technologies and hastening the adoption and utilisation of these new offerings. The impact of technology has had a significant influence on content creation, content distribution and enhanced content consumption among sports fans,” said Sawhney.
HD and 3D
ESPN STAR Sports, like the BBC, will also be offering HD and 3D channels to enhance the excitement of the Olympic Games. The ESPN 3D Olympic Channel, like BBC’s, promises to deliver more than 200 hours of key events in 3D. Viewers will also have access to 10 dedicated HD channels with LIVE and first-run coverage. This will include several hours’ LIVE coverage of football, badminton, athletics, cycling and swimming, among others. In addition to these 10 channels, ESPN HD will broadcast round-the-clock coverage of the best action from the Games. In total, viewers will receive 2,400 hours of high definition coverage.
Original programming
This sports and news coverage will be complemented by some 665 hours of lead-up programming promised consisting of Olympic official films, historical footage chronicling the red-letter moments of the last two decades and other shows that will unfold inspirational tales and insights into the Games. For instance, Gold Rush provides short, colourful features related to London 2012, including preparations, venues, the host city and the sports and athletes who will take centre stage during the event. Living The Dream will take viewers into the lives of 24 of Asia’s top athletes from six countries, as they share their hopes and dreams for the Games.
BBC’s Mosey highlighted the impact technology has on broadcasting as well, saying that “these are the first truly digital Olympics where we’ll offer more choice than ever before, and the pledge we made is that you’ll be able to watch sport from every venue from first thing in the morning to last thing at night.”
