Extra hours for BBC Three during London 2012

August 15, 2011   ·   0 Comments

The BBC Trust have approved plans to extend BBC Three broadcasting hours into daytime and for an additional 5 Live radio service during the London 2012 Olympics.

BBC Three’s hours from 19 July to 12 August 2012 will extend into daytime across all platforms via use of BBC Parliaments spectrum on DTT (which falls within Parliamentary recess).   BBC Three will also carry Olympic coverage during peak time.

The channel will be provided with an additional £4.5m, and its output during this time will predominantly be dedicated to coverage of the games. Only hourly news bulletins and the post-11pm programming is expected to remain in the schedule.

Roger Mosey, BBC Director of London 2012 said : ‘This means that for the key moments from the start of the morning sessions onwards we will have both BBC One and BBC Three in play as flagship services delivering the best live action.

This is being achieved partly by using the BBC Parliament bandwidth as we did in Beijing, but making it easier to find by putting it under the BBC Three banner rather than as an additional red button stream.’

In addition to the extension of BBC Three broadcasting hours, the BBC Trust has also given approval for an additional DAB digital service during the duration of the games, utilising their existing DAB spectrum. ‘ BBC 5 Live Olympic Extra’  is projected to have a service licence budget of around £200,000.

The additional service will enable 5 Live to broadcast it’s usual schedule but also provide in-depth coverage on DAB alongside the regular 5 Live Sports Extra – which will be able to maintain its commitment to cricket and other non-Olympic action.

The BBC Trust, who have committed to public consultation prior to finalisation of the plans said: “We consider that coverage of major sports events, such as the Olympics, fits closely with the BBC’s role to promote the public purposes and so consider that the proposal to offer the temporary service and offers is fully in keeping with the BBC’s remit and mission.”

Tags: 5 Live, BBC Three, BBC Trust, London 2012, Roger Mosey