The BBC prepared for the most digital and interactive Games in history

The BBC has been working hard to respond to a multi-platform connected digital audience and London 2012 will be the first Olympic Games in which tablets, smartphones and connected television will be very present.

London 2012 will be the first truly digital Games. The BBC is working at a frenetic pace in these previous months so that its audience does not miss a moment of the Olympics thanks to unprecedented coverage across multiple platforms.

The latest technologies in online video and broadcast, and the BBC's pioneering integration of deep data, social media and personalization, will set a new standard in major event coverage.

Among other possibilities, the BBC will offer through bbc.co.uk/sport Up to 24 live HD streams and 2,500 hours of coverage, plus access to detailed real-time information, statistics and breaking news.

Coverage takes a personal and social approach, allowing audiences to follow their favorite sports or athletes with tailored updates, as well as drop-in updates, Twitter views and commentary across social media.

The public will be able to watch the Olympic Games wherever and whenever they want, across four screens: PC, mobile, tablets and connected televisions (including smart TVs, games consoles and the popular BBC Red Button service).

The BBC will also offer the opening and closing ceremonies and some of the most relevant sporting events in 3D, and will carry out the first tests at an Olympics with the Super Hi Vision format in collaboration with the Japanese NHK.

360º coverage

In the four years since the Beijing Olympics, the digital landscape has changed significantly, with an invasion of tablets, the rapid penetration of smartphones, and the increasing use of connected televisions. The BBC has been working hard to respond to a multi-platform connected digital audience.

In Beijing, the BBC offered six live streams, while now it will give the opportunity to follow up to 24 live streams across four screens: PCs, mobiles, tablets and connected televisions. Viewers will be able to switch between the 24 signals whenever they want, rewind back, access bookmarks by chapter or key moments... and all this accompanied by an avalanche of data and statistics in real time.

The BBC Sport portal, designed with innovative dynamic semantic publishing technology, will allow the creation and updating in real time of all types of content interrelated with other platforms.
Audiences will be able to click to follow athletes, sports, events or countries directly through BBC online, and receive updates as they happen.

The BBC will also offer immersive coverage including live Twitter updates, views and commentary from across social media.

The BBC has also developed a mobile application for the Olympic Games, ensuring coverage wherever the audience is. This mobile development, accessible across all devices, will mirror the majority of the desktop experience, but will be cleverly adapted to fit the mobile screen. Apple and Android users will also have access to up to 24 live streams.

Additionally, the public will be able to access content offline, when they are not connected to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.

In interactive television, the already popular Red Button service on Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat will offer audiences access to up to 24 live streams and 2,500 hours of programming and an at-a-glance overview of the highest profile events available to watch at any time. In addition, the audience will be able to access a complete alphabetical list, thus finding the sport they want as easy as choosing a channel on television.

The BBC app for connected TVs will also give the public access to the BBC's interactive coverage during the Games. Using an innovative new interface that redefines the app-on-television experience, audiences will have access to 2,500 hours of content and up to 24 simultaneous live events, all in high definition.

All broadcasts will also be available on-demand with a wide range of news recaps and headlines available 24/7.