The London Games on the BBC

This will be the first truly ‘Digital Olympics’, with the BBC offering viewers the most comprehensive coverage of an Olympic Games ever. Audiences will be able to access coverage through multiple platforms including TV, radio, and online across four screens: PC, mobile, tablet and connected TV (including smart TVs and games consoles) and BBC Red Button, regardless of the time of day and where they are.

For the first time the BBC will be providing live coverage of every Olympic Sport from every venue throughout the day. This will amount to around 2,500 hours of live Olympic sporting action, over 1,000 hours more than Beijing 2008.

Through the BBC’s coverage British audiences will experience the global stories of ambition, determination and courage, as well as the excitement, drama and magical moments that make the Olympics such a unique sporting event.

The flagship Olympic channels, BBC One and BBC Three, as well as BBC Two (when BBC One switches to news), BBC HD and BBC One HD will be dedicated to the event over the 17 days of competition.

A 24-hour, temporary digital radio station, Radio 5 live Olympic Extra, will complement BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra for the duration of the Games. These stations combined will bring round-the-clock news, commentary and coverage with the majority of the stations' output coming live from the Olympic venues around the UK.

At bbc.co.uk/sport users will have access to an enhanced and interactive video experience. Here viewers can watch live HD video coverage, switch between up to 24 live video streams, rewind live coverage and access live data, statistics and information while watching the action. The site also offers pages for every sport, athlete, country and venue and immersive coverage that includes live updates and comments from across social media. There will also be video and text guides to all the sports as well as an activity finder where those inspired to have a go at sport can find out about sessions near them.

The BBC has also developed an Olympics mobile browser site and Olympics mobile app so audiences have content at their fingertips while on the move.

Roger Mosey, BBC Director, London 2012, says: “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.

“As the nation’s broadcaster we are committed to ensuring that viewers get the most from their Olympic experience and our comprehensive coverage will deliver on that promise.

“We will be bringing live coverage of every Olympic Sport from every venue, both through a combination of BBC One and BBC Three and up to 24 simultaneous streams live online on PC, mobile, tablet or connected TV. These services will be complemented by coverage on Radio 5 live, mobile and tablet, while the majority of cable and satellite viewers will be able to access the 24 channels on their providers’ platform through the BBC Red Button.

“Alongside our Sport offering, our News services will be providing impartial news coverage on all the big Olympic stories for the duration of the Games.”

The competition schedule involves 26 Olympic sports, broken down into 39 disciplines held in 32 venues, and to ensure that millions of viewers across the UK will be able to watch every Olympic sport, the BBC has made its 24 HD-quality, live Olympic streams available to cable and satellite providers, on a non-exclusive basis, for the duration of the Olympic Games. This will ensure viewers will be able to access the same content that will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website on their TVs, through the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and BBC Red Button as well as on all four screens online – mobile, tablet, connected TV and PC.

Innovation has always been at the heart of what the BBC does. In 1948 when the Olympics were last in London the BBC pioneered by putting them on television for the first time and this time around the BBC will be broadcasting select footage on big screens in Super Hi Vision. As previously promised, some footage will also be made available in 3D.

The BBC London 2012 website (bbc.co.uk/2012) draws together the wide range of the BBC’s online content from News, Sport, Music, Arts, Children’s, Nations & Regions and more. It will include continuous coverage of the Olympic torch relay round the UK and has a section for the London 2012 Festival. Links to 2012 coverage elsewhere on the internet are also highlighted.

The existing network of BBC Big Screens is now part of the official London 2012 Live Sites programme. London 2012 Live Sites will have destinations in 22 towns and cities across the UK for communities to come together to enjoy an unprecedented summer of events. The sites are a partnership between London 2012, the BBC and local authorities. There will be some seating provided so crowds can enjoy all the events on screen in style.

BBC News will be around the UK to bring all the news and stories surrounding the Games, while other BBC channels, such as BBC World News, will keep viewers around the globe up to date with the latest goings-on.

At 9pm on Friday 27 July, the world will turn its eyes to the Olympic Stadium in London for the spectacle and splendour of the Opening Ceremony. Billions of people worldwide will view this historic event, which marks the beginning of 16 days of world-class competition. BBC Television will have live coverage of the Opening Ceremony and the Closing Ceremony.

Commentary on the ceremonies will be led by Huw Edwards, and he will be joined in the stadium by Hazel Irvine and Trevor Nelson.

On BBC One breakfast time viewers will wake up to a combination of Bill Turnbull, Hazel Irvine, Sian Williams and Chris Hollins. They will be followed by Mishal Husain from 0900-1130 with live sport venue presenters on site including: Clare Balding (swimming), Jonathan Edwards (athletics) and John Inverdale (rowing).

Continuing after 1130 through to 1600, the daytime presenters will include: Matt Baker (also on site at gymnastics), Clare Balding (also on site from diving, equestrian and swimming), Jake Humphrey (also on site from track cycling) and Hazel Irvine.

From 1600 each day, Sue Barker will pick up the reins before handing over to Gary Lineker for the evening show at 1900.

Gabby Logan will bring together the sport and late-night events from across the UK from 2240-midnight. Dan Walker will closethe day from 0015-0100 with Olympic Sportsday.

On BBC Three a combination of Manish Bhasin, Rishi Persad and Sonali Shah will welcome morning viewers and take them through the afternoon up to 1900. Jake Humphrey will anchor the channel between 1900-2300.

Mark Pougatch leads the 5 live coverage from London during the Olympics. 5 live presenters Nicky Campbell, Rachel Burden, Victoria Derbyshire, Mark Chapman, Peter Allen, Colin Murray and Tony Livesey will all feature alongside a team of top commentators led by Mike Costello for athletics and John Murray for the ceremonies.

The BBC Television team will include, among others, Sport News reporters David Bond and James Pearce as well as roving feature reporters Tina Daheley, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Leon Mann, Jason Mohammad, Ore Oduba, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Garry Richardson, Helen Skelton, Michael Vaughan and Reggie Yates – who will prove indispensable as they get under the skin of the man or woman of the moment.

Comprehensive coverage on BBC TV

As host nation broadcaster for the London 2012 Olympic Games, the BBC holds TV, radio, online, mobile and iPlayer rights in the UK. The flagship Olympic channels will be BBC One and BBC Three, as well as BBC Two (when BBC One switches to news), BBC HD and BBC One HD.

These channels will cover all of the key live action and top stories from the Games, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Coverage of every Olympic sport from every venue will also be available via BBC Red Button and bbc.co.uk/sport.

Please note: all transmission times are subject to change.

The Olympics 27 July – 12 August

Live coverage on BBC Red Button and bbc.co.uk/sport

9.00am-12midnight

Every Olympic sport from every venue through up to 24 simultaneous, HD-quality, live Olympic streams. 24 channels are also available to cable and satellite viewers through the BBC Red Button.

BBC One

Olympic Breakfast

6.00am-9.00am BBC One/BBC One HD A combination of Hazel Irvine and Bill Turnbull or Chris Hollins and Sian Williams start the day with a look at the main stories from the day before and the highlights from the day ahead, also incorporating national and regional news and weather.

Olympics 2012

9.00am-11.30am BBC One/BBC One HD Mishal Husain brings the first of the day’s live action from the athletics, rowing and swimming heats. Venue presentation from Matt Baker, Clare Balding, Jonathan Edwards, Jake Humphrey and John Inverdale.

Olympics 2012

11.30am-1.45pm BBC One/BBC One HD The live action continues into the afternoon with Matt Baker, Clare Balding or Hazel Irvine. The focus will remain on the athletics, rowing and swimming heats plus other events including the men’s triathlon.

Olympics 2012

1.45pm-4.00pm BBC One/BBC One HD Clare Balding, Jake Humphrey or Hazel Irvine takes on the baton, focusing on the conclusion of events such as the cycling road races, tennis finals, equestrian and diving.

Olympics 2012

4.00pm-7.00pm BBC One/BBC One HD As we head towards the evening, Sue Barker brings us the action from the track cycling, gymnastics, tennis and equestrian.

Olympics 2012

7.00pm-10.35pm BBC One/BBC One HD Gary Lineker takes us through the evening and into the night with action from the competition finals including the athletics and swimming.

Olympics Tonight

10.40pm-midnight BBC One/BBC One HD Gabby Logan, in the company of star guests from the world of sport and beyond, focuses on the stories and personalities that have dominated the day and looks at the sport still in progress.

Olympic Sportsday

00.15am-1.00am BBC One/BBC One HD Dan Walker rounds up the main stories from the day’s action.

BBC Two

Olympics 2012

1.00pm-1.45pm; 6.00pm-7.00pm; 10.00pm-10.40pm BBC Two

Coverage switches from BBC One to BBC Two during the main BBC News bulletins.

BBC Three

Olympics 2012

9.00am-7.00pm BBC Three

Manish Bhasin, Rishi Persad or Sonali Shah will complement BBC One with some of the best action on offer from the 26 sports at the Games.

Olympics 2012

7.00pm-11.00pm BBC Three

Jake Humphrey presents the best of the live action from the football, hockey, boxing and basketball.

BBC News

BBC News: BBC One (1.00pm-1.45pm;

6.00pm-7.00pm; 10.00pm-10.40pm); BBC News Channel (including daily Olympics highlights programmes at 6.30pm, 10.30pm and 00.30pm) and bbc.co.uk/news

BBC News will be bringing you all of the stories from inside and outside of the Olympic venues, 24 hours a day, on the usual BBC One bulletins, the BBC News Channel and bbc.co.uk/news.