Four years on from London’s spectacular sporting party, the greatest show on earth heads to South America for the first time in its history as Rio de Janeiro gets set to stage the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and the BBC will provide blanket coverage from August 3-21.
More than 10,000 of the world’s finest athletes from over 200 countries will assemble in Brazil to compete in 42 Olympic sporting disciplines, with 306 events over the course of 19 days of competition which will yield 136 medals for women, 161 for men and nine mixed medals.
Despite controversies over the host city’s preparations for the Games, the Russian doping scandal and concerns over the spread of the Zika virus, organisers will be hoping that the sporting greatness which will be made over the course of the next two weeks will help generate some much needed positive headlines for the Olympic movement.
It is against this backdrop that the world’s leading athletes must try to restore the reputation of the Olympic, including global superstars such as Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Naymar, Mo Farah, Chris Froome, Jessica Ennis-Hill and many more.
The first weekend will see the Olympic men’s and women’s cycling road races, as well as the first swimming events in the pool, with rowing, cycling and gymnastics also dominating the opening few days, where there are high hopes for British athletes.
The athletics will start from Friday, August 12, with Jessica Ennis-Hill representing Team GB in the hepathlon, and the middle Saturday sees a potential repeat of that magical ‘Super Saturday’ in London 2012, with Ennis-Hill in the heptathlon, Mo Farah in the 10,000m and Greg Rutherford in the long jump all going for gold.
Fans will be able to follow all the drama and excitement from Rio with 17 days of comprehensive coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympics across the BBC with more than 3,000 hours of live sporting action.
BBC One and BBC Four will be the home of the main network coverage, while the BBC Sport website, in a repeat of the 2012 digital offering, will provide up to 24 HD streams, delivering every moment to fans whenever they want and wherever they are.
The BBC has been broadcasting the Olympics since 1948 and has shown every Games consecutively since 1960, but Rio 2016 will be the last Games that the corporation will be able to provide such comprehensive coverage on free-to-air television.
From the next Winter Games in Pyeongchang in two years time, the BBC will be restricted to just two live feeds after losing primary Olympics rights to Eurosport, which is now owned by American media giant Discovery.
Despite the changes to UK Olympic broadcasting ahead, the BBC will remain the free-to-air home of the Summer and Winter Games until at least 2024, ensure the must-see moments from the world’s greatest sporting showpiece are seen by the biggest audience possible.
Commenting on its Rio 2016 coverage, Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said: “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.”
As the countdown to the sporting world’s biggest sporting party nears its end, 17 days of memorable sporting competition are set to unfold in Rio de Janeiro and you can follow all the action with BBC Sport.
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OPENING CEREMONY: Friday 5th August
DAY 1: Saturday 6th August
DAY 2: Sunday 7th August
DAY 3: Monday 8th August
DAY 4: Tuesday 9th August
DAY 5: Wednesday 10th August
DAY 6: Thursday 11th August
FULL SCHEDULE
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The BBC is the only place to watch comprehensive coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with 3,000 hours of live sporting action set to be broadcast across all of its platforms.
Following its award-winning coverage of London 2012, which saw over 90 per cent of the UK population watch its output, the BBC will once again be right at the heart of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle, delivering blanket coverage from the 17 days of action across TV, radio, online and digital.
BBC One and BBC Four will broadcast 550 hours of action, running daily from 6.00am with Olympic Breakfast on BBC One, followed by extended highlights of the overnight action on BBC Two from 9.15am.
Then continuous live coverage of the day’s events starts at 1.00pm on BBC TV, running through to the early hours of the morning, plus there will be an additional 8 live Red Button streams on selected TV platforms allowing viewers to choose which sport they want to watch.
In a repeat of the popular 2012 digital offering, up to 24 online streams will broadcast live coverage of every televised event from the Games, wherever they are across mobile, tablet, desktop, connected TV, gaming devices and Red Button+.
BBC One’s live coverage of the Games begins on Friday, August 5 with a special preview show presented by Clare Balding, which will be followed later in the evening with the spectacular Opening Ceremony, with Hazel Irvine and Andrew Cotter providing commentary from the Maracanã Stadium as the formalities get underway.
The following afternoon, Hazel kicks off BBC One’s live daytime coverage from 1.00pm. Clare Balding and Mark Chapman will guide viewers through the live action each day from 7.00pm-midnight, with Jason Mohammad taking over from midnight until 4.00am.
Over on BBC Four, Ore Oduba will welcome viewers daily between 1-7pm, while Dan Walker will anchor the channel from 7pm until the end of the day’s action.
Supporting the main network coverage throughout the fortnight will be special daily editions of BBC Breakfast from 6.00am on BBC One.
Olympic Breakfast will be broadcast live from BBC Sport’s Salford hub to bring viewers all the highlights and extended Games coverage.
With four hour time difference meaning many of the prime gold medal events will air in the UK beyond 11.00pm, a replay programme with all the best action from the overnight events will be shown on BBC Two each morning, usually from 9.15am to 1pm.
Once again the BBC has assembled an elite line-up of commentators and expert analysts, including many former Olympic champions.
Unparalleled expertise and knowledge will come from sporting legends such as Sir Chris Hoy, Denise Lewis, Beth Tweddle, Sir Steve Redgrave, Rebecca Adlington and Sir Clive Woodward, who will give their own unique insight into the key sporting moments, bringing audiences closer to all the action.
Making his BBC debut, Olympic and IBF world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will also be out in Rio sharing with viewers his thoughts and insight on the medal hopefuls in the ring.
Bringing viewers right to the centre of the sporting drama across Rio, Gabby Logan will be in position at the Olympics Park to present Athletics, while Clare Balding will be trackside at the Velodrome for Cycling.
From the Aquatics Centre, Helen Skelton fronts Swimming with Matt Baker at the Olympics Arena for Gymnastics and John Inverdale live at the Lagoa Stadium for the Rowing.
The live sporting action concludes on Sunday, August 21, when Hazel Irvine and Andrew Cotter will again oversee proceedings for BBC One’s coverage of the closing ceremony as the celebrations come to an end and Rio’s Olympic flame is extinguished.
All of BBC One and BBC Four’s coverage will available to watch online via the BBC Sport website and on catch-up via BBC iPlayer (further details below).
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06:00-09:15 – Olympic Breakfast: Charlie Stayt & Louise Minchin
09:15-13:00 – BBC Two: Replay of the overnight action
13:00-19:00 – Hazel Irvine
19:00-00:00 – Clare Balding / Mark Chapman
00:00-04:00 – Jason Mohammad
Live presentation from key venues with Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, John Inverdale & Matt Baker
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13:00-18:00 – Ore Oduba
18:00-02:00 – Dan Walker / Rishi Persad
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To complement BBC One and BBC Four’s network TV coverage, viewers will have an extended choice of extra live events to watch via the BBC’s Red Button service.
On TV, cable and satellite viewers will be able to access seven live BBC Red Button streams curating all the key sports and highlights throughout the Olympics, with each stream also available in high definition.
There will be a limited service for Freeview standard definition viewers with two part-time live Red Button streams available on channels 600-601, while those with high definition Freeview boxes or YouView may be able to receive all 8 Red Button live streams in SD depending on coverage.
The same eight TV streams will also be available on BBC iPlayer along with live streaming of BBC One and BBC Four, so you can keep up with all the BBC’s live Olympics coverage on the go, or catch up on your favourite events when you want.
Viewers with access to Red Button+ via connected TVs or platforms like Virgin TiVo will be able to access all 24 live streams.
For a more detailed breakdown of the BBC’s digital offering via the Red Button/Online across all platforms and how to receive them, click here.
BBC Olympics RED BUTTON – Channel Numbers |
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| Freeview HD YouView |
Freesat | Sky | Virgin | |
| Olympics 1 / HD | 601 (RB1) | 261/271 | 472/480 | 561/571 |
| Olympics 2 / HD | 602 (RB2) | 262/272 | 473/481 | 562/572 |
| Olympics 3 / HD | 603 (RB3) | 263/273 | 474/482 | 563/573 |
| Olympics 4 / HD | 604 (RB4) | 264/274 | 475/483 | 564/574 |
| Olympics 5 / HD | 605 (RB5) | 265/275 | 476/484 | 565/575 |
| Olympics 6 / HD | 606 (RB6) | 266/276 | 477/485 | 566/576 |
| Olympics 7 / HD | 607 (RB7) | 267/277 | 478/486 | 567/577 |
| Olympics 8 HD (1900-0530) |
600 (RB0) 114 (Olympics HD) |
268/278 | 479/487 | 568/578 |
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BBC Sport’s extensive online service will bring viewers every moment of the 2016 Olympics, with over 2,500 hours of live action across 24 live HD video streams available.
All the live action as well as full replays and on-demand highlights will also be available via the BBC Sport website on mobile, desktop, connected TVs and BBC Sport app, while in-play video highlights will be included in the daily live text commentary.
In addition, the BBC has also announced the launch of a new virtual reality service, BBC Sport 360, which will give viewers a 360-degree view of selected events every day of the Games.
Further details of the BBC’s digital coverage of the Games can be found below.
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The BBC Sport website will offer a complete online Olympics experience tailored to audiences and providing the latest Rio 2016 news, in-depth analysis, live coverage and catch-up service.
Up to 24 live HD video streams available via bbc.co.uk/olympics, BBC Sport App and Red Button+ – accessible via desktop, mobile, tablet and connected televisions – will ensure viewers have the ability to watch all the action as it happens live in Rio.
The BBC’s live coverage will be faster than ever before, and the best place to keep up to speed with every event as they happen throughout the Games for up to 20 hours a day.
The latest video highlights will complement live text updates, the best of social media, news and analysis from BBC Sport experts and pundits.
There will also be a full medal table updated in real time, as well as comprehensive results and schedules for every event throughout the Games.
Olympic fans can look forward to a weekly news digest in the build-up to the Games and BBC Sport’s world-class journalists providing online features from the venues and fan parks across Brazil.
Users of the BBC Sport app will be able to add ‘Rio 2016’ and their favourite Olympic sport to their My Sport page, placing their Olympic interests alongside their current selections.
Notifications and reminders will also ensure that fans don’t miss the latest news or forget their favourite event.
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With the Games taking place nearly 6,000 miles away, BBC Sport’s catch-up service will transcend time zones and make sure viewers will be able to watch the action they missed live.
Special catch-up programmes will also be available daily including the Olympic Playlist, a show made available every morning throughout the Games from 6am, highlighting the action from the previous 24 hours and available to download on BBC iPlayer.
Viewers watching live programmes on BBC iPlayer will also be able to make use of Live Restart, allowing them to watch Olympics shows from the the beginning.
Every Olympic programme broadcast on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four will also be available on BBC iPlayer.
On demand highlights clips and full-length replays of the best of the action from our 24 live HD video streams will also be available via BBC Sport’s website and apps.
The BBC has also teamed up with YouTube to show full online Olympic highlights via the BBC Sport YouTube channel.
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Follow the Games with exclusive behind-the-scenes access via BBC Sport’s social media accounts across a range of platforms.
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Facebook Twitter YouTube Google+ Instagram
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All TV times subsequent to change.
Scroll up and click on our daily TV guides for full BBC schedule details for each day of the Games.
Additional daily live coverage on BBC Red Button
FRIDAY 5th AUGUST
Olympics 2016: Countdown to Rio
Preview Show 8.30pm-10.00pm BBC One
OLYMPICS 2016: OPENING CEREMONY
LIVE 11.40pm-4.00am BBC One
SATURDAY 6th AUGUST
DAY 1
Olympic Breakfast: 6.00am-10.00am BBC One
Opening Ceremony Replay: 9.15am-12.00pm BBC Two
BBC One LIVE 12.10pm-6.00pm / 6.20pm-10.10pm / 10.30pm-4.00am
BBC Two LIVE 10.10pm-10.30pm
BBC Four LIVE 1.00pm-2.00am
SUNDAY 7th AUGUST
DAY 2
Olympic Breakfast: 6.00am-9.00am BBC One
Olympics 2016 Replay (Day 1): 9.15am-1.00pm BBC Two
BBC One LIVE 1.00pm-6.00pm / 7.30pm-10.00pm / 11.15pm-4.00am
BBC Two LIVE 6.00pm-7.30pm / 10.00pm-11.15pm
BBC Four LIVE 1.00pm-2.00am
MONDAY 8th AUGUST
DAY 3
Olympic Breakfast: 6.00am-9.15am BBC One
Olympics 2016 Replay (Day 2): 9.15am-1.00pm BBC Two
BBC One LIVE 1.45pm-6.00pm / 7.00pm-8.00pm / 8.30pm-10.00pm / 10.45pm-4.00am
BBC Two LIVE 1.00pm-1.45pm / 6.00pm-7.00pm / 8.00pm-8.30pm / 10.00pm-10.45pm
BBC Four LIVE 1.00pm-2.00am
TUESDAY 9th AUGUST
DAY 4
Olympic Breakfast: 6.00am-9.15am BBC One
Olympics 2016 Replay (Day 3): 9.15am-1.00pm BBC Two
BBC One LIVE 1.45pm-6.00pm / 7.00pm-7.30pm / 8.00pm-10.00pm / 10.45pm-4.00am
BBC Two LIVE 1.00pm-1.45pm / 6.00pm-7.00pm / 7.30pm-8.00pm / 10.00pm-10.45pm
BBC Four LIVE 1.00pm-2.00am
WEDNESDAY 10th AUGUST
DAY 5
Olympic Breakfast: 6.00am-9.15am BBC One
Olympics 2016 Replay (Day 4): 9.15am-12.15pm BBC Two
BBC One LIVE 1.45pm-6.00pm / 7.00pm-10.00pm / 10.45pm-4.00am
BBC Two LIVE 12.15pm-1.45pm / 6.00pm-7.00pm / 10.00pm-10.45pm
BBC Four LIVE 1.00pm-2.00am
THURSDAY 11th AUGUST
DAY 6
Olympic Breakfast: 6.00am-9.15am BBC One
Olympics 2016 Replay (Day 5): 9.15am-12.15pm BBC Two
BBC One LIVE 1.45pm-6.00pm / 7.00pm-7.30pm / 8.00pm-10.00pm / 10.45pm-4.00am
BBC Two LIVE 1.00pm-1.45pm / 6.00pm-7.00pm / 7.30pm-8.00pm / 10.00pm-10.45pm
BBC Four LIVE 1.00pm-2.00am
FRIDAY 12th AUGUST
DAY 7
Olympic Breakfast: 6.00am-9.15am BBC One
Olympics 2016 Replay (Day 6): 9.15am-12.15pm BBC Two
BBC One LIVE 1.45pm-6.00pm / 7.00pm-8.00pm / 8.30pm-10.00pm / 10.35pm-4.00am
BBC Two LIVE 1.00pm-1.45pm / 6.00pm-7.00pm / 8.00pm-8.30pm / 10.00pm-10.35pm
BBC Four LIVE 1.00pm-2.00am
SATURDAY 13th AUGUST
DAY 8
Olympic Breakfast: 6.00am-9.15am BBC One
Olympics 2016 Replay (Day 7): 9.15am-12.15pm BBC Two
BBC One LIVE 12.45pm-5.00pm / 5.20pm-10.10pm / 11.55pm-4.00am
BBC Two LIVE 10.10pm-11.15pm
BBC Four LIVE 1.00pm-2.00am
Further TV schedules to follow…
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