Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games on the BBC

In addition to 200 hours of network TV coverage, BBC Sport will deliver the most complete digital coverage of a Winter Olympic Games to date, including over 650 hours of live action via six HD streams.

Published: 9 January 2014
BBC Sport is very proud to be able to offer such extensive coverage from Sochi 2014 - after delivering London 2012 we’re once again at the forefront of bringing the most innovative and accessible multi-platform sports coverage to our audiences."
— Ron Chakraborty, Lead Executive, Major Events for BBC Sport
  • Six HD streams across digital platforms to deliver over 650 hours of live action, covering every moment of Sochi 2014
  • New digital approach brings world-class live event coverage to audiences
  • Over 200 hours on network TV plus two red button streams 
  • Live reports from the Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralympic Games on BBC Radio 5 live 
  • Highly acclaimed actor Charles Dance provides the voice of ‘nature’ in BBC Winter Olympics Games trail

In addition to 200 hours of network TV coverage, BBC Sport will deliver the most complete digital coverage of a Winter Olympic Games to date, including over 650 hours of live action via six HD streams. BBC Sport will also bring all the analysis, insight, news and highlights from Sochi 2014 to audiences wherever they are, on whichever device they want.

Building on the BBC’s digital success at London 2012 and other major sporting events in 2013, an innovative new approach to delivering world-class live coverage across PC, tablet and mobile has been developed for Sochi 2014. This will power the BBC’s digital offering of a live event for the first time ever throughout the Winter Olympic Games, bringing key benefits to audiences and leaving a lasting technology legacy.

Winter Olympic Games live

The new Winter Olympic Games live page, available from www.bbc.co.uk/sport,  provides the best of the BBC’s live action in one place, allowing audiences to follow the event how and where they like. Whether it’s getting the latest news via a smartphone, watching favourite events on the office PC, using tablets in front of the big screen to get the latest stats, or watching the live streams on a connected TV.

The live page also brings Winter sport fans together by sharing the best of their comments and opinions via email, SMS and social media, alongside those from the BBC’s expert reporters and talent. Audiences will also be able to access a range of on-demand video clips through the live page, allowing them to catch up on the day’s highlights before jumping into the live action.

In-depth online content

Ahead of the Games, BBC Sport will provide an in-depth look at all the sports in Sochi, Team GB’s and global medal hopes and Winter Olympic memories from the past. BBC Sport’s comprehensive Sochi schedule will also be here to help fans catch all their favourite moments from the Games, alongside the latest medals table and results, with extra features, reaction and analysis from BBC reporters and talent. BBC Two’s daily highlights programme will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Content across four screens

All content from the new Winter Olympics live page will be available on PCs, tablets and mobiles – by simply accessing the BBC Sport website (bbc.co.uk/sport) from any device. Alternatively, audiences can use the BBC Sport app for mobile and tablet devices, available for free on iPhone, iPad, Android and Kindle Fire, with no need to update the app.

On TV, up to two red button streams on BT Vision, Freesat, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media and YouView will offer live content and highlights from Sochi. All six live streams and on-demand video will be available through the BBC’s Connected Red Button service on Virgin Media TiVo and Sony Freeview Smart TVs and via the BBC Sport app for connected TVs.

Digital technology legacy

The state-of-the-art underlying technology can be used across the BBC, enabling even more live events to be given the digital treatment, cost effectively, and leave a legacy for the future. Starting with the Winter Olympics, this new approach will power the BBC’s digital coverage of other major sporting events in 2014, and will go on to bring a range of news, cultural and broadcast events for the first time.

Ron Chakraborty, Lead Executive of Major Events for BBC Sport, says: “BBC Sport is very proud to be able to offer such extensive coverage from Sochi 2014 - after delivering London 2012 we’re once again at the forefront of bringing the most innovative and accessible multi-platform sports coverage to our audiences. The Winter Olympics is a big part of a fantastic year of sport on the BBC which also includes the World Cup and Commonwealth Games.”

Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine and Jonathan Edwards will lead TV coverage of the action from Sochi, daily from 7am to 8pm on BBC Two and BBC Two HD*. Clare will also introduce the Opening and Closing Ceremonies while Hazel Irvine will lead the commentary.

The Opening Ceremony, which will see more than 2,000 performers welcoming the world to Russia, will be live on BBC Two and BBC Two HD from 3.30pm on 7 February.

The Closing Ceremony celebrating Sochi’s hosting of the Games as the Olympic flame is extinguished in the Fisht Stadium starts on BBC Two and BBC Two HD at 4pm on 23 February.

Clare, Hazel and Jonathan will be joined by a world-class team of winter sports experts including 2010 gold medallist Amy Williams and former Olympians Graham Bell, Colin Bryce, Emma Carrick-Anderson, Robin Cousins, Jackie Lockhart and Wilf O’Reilly. Each will draw on their Winter Olympic experience to bring the most unique and insightful analysis to viewers.

All of Team GB’s medal moments will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 live throughout the 17-day event, with Chris Mitchell, Eleanor Oldroyd and Will Perry presenting all the main events and races live across 5 live’s daytime schedules.

Highly acclaimed actor and star of Game Of Thrones Charles Dance is the voice of ‘nature’ in a Winter Olympics Games trail to promote the BBC’s extensive coverage of Sochi 2014. Dance, in his role as ‘nature’, speaks a foreboding verse to set a challenge to the Winter Olympic athletes to overcome its extreme elements. The trail also sets the basis for the opening credits of all BBC’s Winter Olympics television coverage. The trail debuted at 8.30pm on BBC One and BBC One HD ahead of the series finale of Sherlock on 12 January. The full trail can now be viewed below.

*schedules may vary, please check listings for details

GS

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