BBC 2012 - The Olympic Broadcaster

First teaser/sting/whatever you want to call it:

Some images from the BBC Sport site...

I see they've used an O instead of an 0. Seen that before, haven't we?
http://hub.tv-ark.org.uk/images/news/millennium_images/2000todaya_big-01.jpg
TV Ark

I noticed this trailer on Sky tonight, advertising the 24 HD channels which will be available (together with 24 SD channels) during the period of the Olympics from 25/07/12.

It's not often (if at all) I have ever seen a BBC logo used in conjunction with Sky's.

It uses a subtly altered version of their usual mantra of "Believe in Better", to become "Believe in Britain".



Apparently the 48 channels will appear as a block of temporary FTA channels within the Sky EPG from Ch450+ as from about 25/07/12.

Will these channels be available to all Sky customers or just for those subscribed to the Sports Channels?

Yep - the same FTA streams will also be available to Freesat (and other FTA receiver) viewers. Sky are providing the transponder capacity - I believe - by reducing the number of Sky Box Office streams during the games - which given that they have Anytime+ rolled out to HD boxes is less of an issue than it once was.

Indeed, as noggin has said, the channels are free to everyone with access.

If you have a Sky+ sub (or Freesat+ box) you can record them too off the planner (for when you are at work during events you're following).

I'm assuming that the trade-off for the transponder capacity by Sky was them being able to promote themselves alongside the BBC in this way in the immediate run-up to the games? I can't believe that BSkyB are altruistic, unfortunately, but I have a cynical nature.


All channels (even the HD channels to those without Sky HD sub)

This is great news.

I did some digging and apparently the same service is also available to Freesat and Virgin Media customers as well.

http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/BBC-and-Eurosport-bring-2012-Olympics-to-Virgin-Media-customers-239c.aspx

There is no room at 450 for 48 channels without gaps though.

Sky Sports 3 HD/SD is at 454 and Sky Sports 4 is on 455. It will be quite annoying if the 48 channels are not on consecutive EPG positions. It wouldn't be so bad if there is a gap between the 24 SD channels and the 24 HD channels but when flicking through the Olympic streams no one wants to see a Sky Sports channel in the middle, apart from a Sky marketing man possibly.

There is a re-shuffle of the EPG happening next week.

It's a mess . . .

They are trying to tidy it up. There will be gaps from Ch450+ by 25/07/12.

Here is a complete clicky list of changes to EPG

Sky are providing the transponder space - but you won't need a subscription to any Sky service to watch them. The same streams will be received by Freesat receivers (and carry a Freesat EPG as well I believe) and FTA receivers (and PCs with satellite cards etc.)

No requirement for any Sky kit or subscription.

Virgin Media are also going to carry the streams.

David Harewood ( David Estes in Homeland) is doing the voiceover for the BBC adverts

From his Twitter.
I'm in a sound studio recording the voice over for the BBC Olympic trailers! The animation is awesome and is making me homesick.

That Olympics trailer is fantastic. I got goosebumps watching it. The BBC Concert Orchestra arranged by the band Elbow. Outstanding #winners
http://twitter.com/THEHAREWOOD