Why is BBC’s Olympic coverage so stripped back and why do they keep changing channels? How can I watch on Discovery+?

The BBC has been the home of the Olympics for over 75 years – but it’s not just talkSPORT taking the reigns from them in Paris.

The Beeb enjoyed a monopoly over the Games’ television rights in the UK for seven decades, but can’t offer the same service this year.

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The British Broadcasting Corporation first televised the 1948 Olympics in London – the first following a twelve-year hiatus caused by the outbreak of World War II.

68 hours of coverage was screened for the 100,000 TV owners in the UK, which had increased to 51.9 million people watching footage of all events when the Games returned to the capital 64 years later in 2012.

However, the COVID-delayed Tokyo Olympics were marred by a tide of complaints that the BBC lacked the same level of live action.

Those hoping that the reason for that stripped-down service was complications from the fallout of the pandemic will be disappointed.

Paris 2024 is the first summer Olympics in an accessible time zone for UK viewers who still find their access restricted.

What happened to the BBC’s Olympic coverage?

The BBC is no longer the Games’ primary broadcaster meaning their coverage is limited to showing two live events at any one time.

In 2015, Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD) beat out the Beeb to acquire the Olympic’s European TV rights for a reported £1.1bn.

The deal is in place for the next five Games – up to and including the 2032 Summer edition in Brisbane.

In response to questions about why the BBC didn’t match that bid, an FAQ article on the BBC Sport website stated: “Quite simply because we take decisions over our spending very seriously as it is licence fee payers’ money that we are using.

“As much as we’d like to, we can’t buy everything we want.”

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Fortunately, UK law protects several sporting events, including the Olympics, that must be shown live on free-to-air TV.

As a result, it meant Discovery, who owns Eurosport, agreed to sub-license some rights to the BBC.

What does that mean for UK fans?

BBC’s restricted rights still allow for more than 250 hours of coverage, with conditions that it is limited to one linear and one digital channel.

BBC One begins its TV coverage at 8am daily and runs intermittently until 10pm. BBC Two also hosts certain slots to allow for the news, and a nightly highlights show is also available at 10.40pm.

From 8am until 11pm, the BBC iPlayer’s Olympics Extra will also provide a scheduled live stream of events.

To make matters worse, the faces of their Olympic presenting coverage, Clare Balding and Gabby Logan, are not even able to anchor both morning and evening athletics sessions.

France’s employment laws strictly enforce a minimum of 11 hours between shifts, and because of the way the Games are scheduled, are impossible to avoid breaking with one presenter.

The Games’ schedule does ensure that all of the biggest events and medal ceremonies will be shown on the BBC whomever the lead anchor is during the 16-day event.

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However, fans of niche sports or events that aren’t mainstream focus will miss out during the entire 16-day event.

And it does mean that some of the headline-worthy moments will only be shown on the BBC as pre-recorded footage and not live, such as the Sevens semi-finals and even part of legendary US gymnast Simone Biles’ comeback.

This also proved to be an issue during the first Summer Olympics with the current deal in effect in Tokyo three years ago.

The BBC Sport X account infamously confirmed that Brit Bradly Sinden had reached the taekwondo final before the delayed television coverage had finished on BBC One.

This situation is unlikely to ever revert to pre-Tokyo, even after the deal expires in 2032.

The ever-increasing rise and thus competition of paid-for streaming services are set to prove too strong for the BBC’s finances.

Another issue with the BBC coverage has been the constant changing of channels from BBC One to Two.

Throughout the day, events can be on one channel and then switch to the other, which is frustrating for fans.

The reason for this is because the BBC have some shows on their rota that have to be broadcast.

For example at 1pm, 6pm and 10pm every day, the news must be shown on BBC One.

So to make way for that, the Olympics switches over to BBC Two.

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What is the solution?

Discovery+ will have 3,800 hours of live coverage of the Olympics through Eurosport for fans willing to pay, with subscriptions here. 

Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 will broadcast action across every day of competition, with live coverage from 7am-10.30pm daily.

Both Eurosport 1 and 2 will be available on Discovery+, along with seven event-curated Eurosport ‘pop-up’ channels.

Every moment in all 32 Olympic sports will be screened, with a discounted £3.99 a month Olympics offer currently available.

The UK boss of Warner Bros. Discovery’s media business Andrew Georgiou argued it represented better value than the BBC.

He told the Mail: “We have said to the British consumer, that if you want everything then it costs you £3.99 for a month subscription to watch all the Olympics.

“And if you think about that value proposition to a consumer that’s a very, very good value proposition, which we are very happy to stand behind.

“And then if we put that up against also the BBC, the value proposition for us is equally good, if not better, given the amount of content we have versus the BBC.”

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Paris Olympics: talkSPORT coverage

And last, but a hundred and ten per cent not least, talkSPORT have secured radio rights to cover the Olympic Games.

This is the first time the rights to broadcast the event have been available on commercial radio.

A number of talkSPORT’s multi-award-winning presenters and pundits will provide fans with unlimited coverage and content, starting at 6am each day and ending at 10pm.

Our punditry line-up includes Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Kelly Holmes, Tessa Sanderson and Adam Gemili.

Meanwhile, we will have reporters at all of the main events, including cycling, judo, gymnastics and athletics.

talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with all the latest news with a live blog.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

talkSPORT brings you live coverage of the Paris Olympics this summer, with Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Kelly Holmes among our legendary line-up of pundits. Listen to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, via the app, or through your smart speaker. And follow our live blog for all the latest news.