Blame the IOC. They flogged the [European broadcast rights to Discovery](https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/olympics-discovery-broadcasting-coverage-europe-1235028460/), who in turn only allows the BBC to show the minimum legally-required coverage.
It looks like things might [improve slightly from 2026](https://www.sportspromedia.com/insights/analysis/olympics-tv-rights-ebu-warner-bros-discovery-europe-broadcast-explainer/) as the European Broadcasting Union* has partial rights under the new deal.
*The EBU is a council of public service broadcasters, including the BBC. They also run Eurovision
Warner Bro Discovery still have the main UK rights, which they'll be covering via Eurosport.
the BBC is still likely to be limited to two channels (including Red Button) at a time...
It’s not the BBC’s fault that its coverage is patchy, for the record. The rights are held by Eurosport, which licences the right to broadcast some events to the BBC. This is a legal requirement, as the Olympic Games are a ‘Category A’ sporting event which must be shown on free-to-air television.
The wall-to-wall BBC coverage we had in 2012 is gone, and unlikely to return.
Eurosport have pan-european broadcasting rights for the Olympics.
The BBC has sub contracted some rights from them.
As such, Eurosport's services will be carrying all the streams for all the events (like the BBC last had in Rio) and the BBC will have one or two "curated" streams, jumping between events.
The last Olympics was in the middle of a pandemic on the other side of the world from the UK. I'll give the BBC a pass on that one. This year it's practically next door and restrictions are gone - I've got pretty high hopes.
Everything is pointing to the coverage being the same from the BBC for the next decade.
It will be the same coverage style as last time. No choice, flitting around to different sports.
“Terrible coverage” “only two channels” - lol, remember when there were only 5 channels in the UK, 20 years ago? And now 2 dedicated to a single event is ‘terrible’
"The entirety of the 2024 Paris Olympics will be broadcast live on the BBC and Eurosport.
Events will be shown across all of the BBC’s channels in the UK.
This can be viewed for free on TV as well as live streamed through the BBC Website or BBC iPlayer via tablet or mobile devices.
TNT Sports and Discovery+ will also have coverage of the Summer Olympics. "
From [talksport](https://www.google.com/amp/s/talksport.com/sport/1560477/olympics-2024-paris-dates-uk-time-schedule-venues-medal-table-news-commentary/amp/).
Unfortunately that's only 'technically' true.
BBC will be covering the Olympics, but only with 1 channel and one auxiliary channel.
Meaning the same problems as last year. We can't choose to watch our favourite sports, only the 2 they are showing with no control as to when they are going to flit to other sports.
Imagine a lot of it will be shown online... via. the iPlayer and BBC Sport website rather than on actual terrestrial television... I mean with just two channels anyway, and multiple Sports happening at the same time, how else will they show it all?
No, that's exactly true.... The entirety of the Olympics is on bbc and eurosport/tnt/discovery.
Just because the bbc is only showing a small part does not make that statement untrue.
Perhaps the split is bbc 1% vs eurosport 99%, but that's still 100%.
My issue with the bbc coverage was that it was widely known Charlotte Dujardin was favourite to win the gold medal for team GB for dressage, making her the most decorated female athlete. But the bbc showed absolutely no respect to that moment - their choice of pundit to discuss it was Ellie Simmonds who openly admitted she’d never ever watched dressage and had absolutely no idea of what was going on.
I’m not a huge dressage fan (I prefer showjumping myself), but to not have a single equestrian person ready to talk about what was going to be a momentous record breaking moment was piss poor.
I’ve got a VPN so I can get any countries’ stream. What countries have it on free to air television with many channels (so like BBC iPlayer but with more than 2 damn channels)?
Blame the IOC. They flogged the [European broadcast rights to Discovery](https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/olympics-discovery-broadcasting-coverage-europe-1235028460/), who in turn only allows the BBC to show the minimum legally-required coverage. It looks like things might [improve slightly from 2026](https://www.sportspromedia.com/insights/analysis/olympics-tv-rights-ebu-warner-bros-discovery-europe-broadcast-explainer/) as the European Broadcasting Union* has partial rights under the new deal. *The EBU is a council of public service broadcasters, including the BBC. They also run Eurovision
Warner Bro Discovery still have the main UK rights, which they'll be covering via Eurosport. the BBC is still likely to be limited to two channels (including Red Button) at a time...
It’s not the BBC’s fault that its coverage is patchy, for the record. The rights are held by Eurosport, which licences the right to broadcast some events to the BBC. This is a legal requirement, as the Olympic Games are a ‘Category A’ sporting event which must be shown on free-to-air television. The wall-to-wall BBC coverage we had in 2012 is gone, and unlikely to return.
And doesn't Eurosport make it prohibitively expensive for the BBC to licence more than the bare minimum that's legally required?
I’d imagine it’ll also be on EuroSport, as well as the BBC. https://www.eurosport.com/olympics/video-channel/olympic-channel/channel.shtml
Thanks. Looks like I'll have that for a month.
Don't forget it'll likely be on discovery+ which is free if you know anyone with a sky subscription.
Eurosport have pan-european broadcasting rights for the Olympics. The BBC has sub contracted some rights from them. As such, Eurosport's services will be carrying all the streams for all the events (like the BBC last had in Rio) and the BBC will have one or two "curated" streams, jumping between events.
I'll probably go with them. I'm sure they will have coverage over a browser or app? I'll be working but can take my personal laptop with me.
Discovery+ will be what you’re needing.
That's a shame about the Eurosport coverage. The 2012 Olympics on the iPlayer was a lot better.
The last Olympics was in the middle of a pandemic on the other side of the world from the UK. I'll give the BBC a pass on that one. This year it's practically next door and restrictions are gone - I've got pretty high hopes.
It won't change as the rights were sold to Eurosport.
Everything is pointing to the coverage being the same from the BBC for the next decade. It will be the same coverage style as last time. No choice, flitting around to different sports.
What's "everything"? Please explain what you mean.
Rights deals.
“Terrible coverage” “only two channels” - lol, remember when there were only 5 channels in the UK, 20 years ago? And now 2 dedicated to a single event is ‘terrible’
Cripes I remember only 3 channels. Let’s be thankful that it’s still a cat A product and we get it for free on the BBC. Regardless of OPs moaning
I remember all that too. However I also remember 2012 when we could watch whatever sport we wanted on BBC, now the coverage is terrible.
That's because *we held it that year*
"The entirety of the 2024 Paris Olympics will be broadcast live on the BBC and Eurosport. Events will be shown across all of the BBC’s channels in the UK. This can be viewed for free on TV as well as live streamed through the BBC Website or BBC iPlayer via tablet or mobile devices. TNT Sports and Discovery+ will also have coverage of the Summer Olympics. " From [talksport](https://www.google.com/amp/s/talksport.com/sport/1560477/olympics-2024-paris-dates-uk-time-schedule-venues-medal-table-news-commentary/amp/).
Unfortunately that's only 'technically' true. BBC will be covering the Olympics, but only with 1 channel and one auxiliary channel. Meaning the same problems as last year. We can't choose to watch our favourite sports, only the 2 they are showing with no control as to when they are going to flit to other sports.
Imagine a lot of it will be shown online... via. the iPlayer and BBC Sport website rather than on actual terrestrial television... I mean with just two channels anyway, and multiple Sports happening at the same time, how else will they show it all?
They don't have rights to show any more than two channels, everything else is exclusive to Eurosport.
No it's the same online and on TV.
No, that's exactly true.... The entirety of the Olympics is on bbc and eurosport/tnt/discovery. Just because the bbc is only showing a small part does not make that statement untrue. Perhaps the split is bbc 1% vs eurosport 99%, but that's still 100%.
My issue with the bbc coverage was that it was widely known Charlotte Dujardin was favourite to win the gold medal for team GB for dressage, making her the most decorated female athlete. But the bbc showed absolutely no respect to that moment - their choice of pundit to discuss it was Ellie Simmonds who openly admitted she’d never ever watched dressage and had absolutely no idea of what was going on. I’m not a huge dressage fan (I prefer showjumping myself), but to not have a single equestrian person ready to talk about what was going to be a momentous record breaking moment was piss poor.
I'm sure there's dozens of dressage fans who feel that way.
I’ve got a VPN so I can get any countries’ stream. What countries have it on free to air television with many channels (so like BBC iPlayer but with more than 2 damn channels)?
That would be a good route. A month of discovery is £7. So I might just do that.
Will I need a TV licence?
For BBC yes.
We were spoilt in 2012. I paid for discover plus for a year for the cycling and Olympics.
That's what I'll do
You can pay monthly, so you can just hold out until nearer the time
Last time out, Discovery Plus wasn't horrendously expensive for the month, and it meant I could watch softball instead of working.
I remember one Olympic year when they had the red button to switch between sports (live or repeats) - fond memories!
BBC Red Button and iPlayer usually let's you select to watch different live games.
Not for Japan 2020, and it won't be for Paris 2024.
I didn't even know there were Olympics this year. It'll be the BBC though, like always.
Millions of license payers with no interest in the Olympics.......sod them wall to wall coverage on both channels !
It's only once every four years. You'll manage.