The BBC has revealed its plans for comprehensive coverage the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games with more than 3,000 hours of live sporting action set to be broadcast.
Following its award-winning coverage of the London 2012 Olympics, which saw over 90 per cent of the UK population watch its output, the corporation will once again be right at the heart of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle, as it delivers blanket coverage across its TV, radio, online and digital platforms.
BBC One and BBC Four will broadcast 550 hours of live coverage across 17 days, alongside extensive coverage on the BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 live.
In a repeat of the popular 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.
Heading up the BBC’s presentation team at the Rio Games will be Hazel Irvine, Mark Chapman, Clare Balding and Jason Mohammad, who will all host BBC One’s coverage, which kicks off with the much-anticipated Opening Ceremony on Friday, August 5.
They will steer audiences through 15 hours of continuous live action each day from 1.00pm to 4.00am, until the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, August 21.
Hazel Irvine will present BBC One’s opening live coverage each day, before passing the baton onto Clare Balding and Mark Chapman, who will guide viewers through the live action each day from 7.00pm to midnight, with Jason Mohammad taking over from midnight until 4am.
Over on BBC Four, Ore Oduba will present the live action daily from 1.00pm until 6.00pm, while Dan Walker will anchor the channel’s alternative output from 7.00pm until the end of the day’s action.
Bringing viewers right to the centre of the drama, Gabby Logan will be in position at the Olympic 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.
Commentating on both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games will be Hazel Irvine and Andrew Cotter. A full list of BBC commentators for the Games can be found here.
Providing a backdrop of expert opinion and insight into each of the 28 sports that make up the Rio 2016 Games are some of Britain’s most decorated athletes and Olympic legends.
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.
Alongside network TV coverage, 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 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.
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.”
The BBC will also be producing a myriad of additional programmes and content to coincide with Rio 2016, including Mo, a one-hour BBC One special on Mo Farah giving a personal insight into the double Olympic champion.
This is as well as One Night In 2012 – an Imagine special in which Danny Boyle explains the thinking, ambition and challenges that went into creating the London 2012 Opening Ceremony; and a series of BBC Sport specials on the 2016 Team GB hopefuls.
Throughout the duration of the Games the BBC Breakfast sofa will be moved into the home of BBC Sport to ensure that early morning audiences don’t have to miss any of Rio.
This special partnership between BBC Sport and BBC News will celebrate the occasion of the Games and offer extended highlights of the action from Rio each day from 6am.
In addition, the BBC’s Get Inspired initiative will be helping encourage audiences to get involved via its handy guides to sports and activities throughout the Games.
It will be promoted on the BBC Get Inspired website, through the Get Inspired Facebook and Twitter accounts, and in the BBC’s broadcast output.
The build up to Rio 2016 kicks off with the much-anticipated Olympics Games marketing campaign.
This year, the trail and title sequence will be part of an animated campaign which will transpose the human world of sport to the animal world.
The animation will show a world of stunning forest stadiums, inspired by Rio’s Tijuca Forest, while the skills and strength of the athletes will be brought to life by Brazilian animals.
The trail makes its TV debut on Sunday, July 10, during BBC One’s coverage of the UEFA Euro 2016 final.
With 550 hours of network coverage across 17 days of world-class sporting action, the BBC is set to bring unparalleled access of Rio 2016 to UK audiences.
