MediaCityUK-based BBC Sport has announced plans to stream over a thousand hours of live sport online.
It would be made available through its digital platforms including the website and iPlayer.
“This shows how we’re reinventing the BBC for a new generation. We’re giving people more of what they love by working in partnership with the sports industry and making the most of digital technology,” explained BBC Director-General, Tony Hall.
The corporation will be teaming up with individual sports associations with the aim of broadcasting coverage from more than 30 additional sports or sporting events every year. These will include World, European and National championships.
Examples would be early rounds of the FA Cup, Rugby League Challenge Cup, British Basketball League, Women’s Super League and Wheelchair Tennis.
The move is due to new low-cost streaming technology developed in-house, which will now be made available to the sporting bodies. As well as providing the technology and platform, the BBC will also offer editorial and training.
“We’ve seen the nation get behind by a whole host of sports in recent years, especially at major events. We want to use BBC Sport’s live streaming service to showcase more of those moments that inspire people to take part. Put simply, it’s a huge expansion in the availability of free-to-air sport in the UK,” said Barbara Slater, head of BBC Sport.
