The BBC has defended its decision to stop digital terrestrial transmissions of BBC Parliament during this year's Olympic Games, and use the capacity to extend sports coverage on its "red button" interactive services.

The service will be off-air on DTT between August 8 and 24. The spectrum freed up will enable the corporation to provide live and recorded footage of various events at the Beijing games simultaneously.

"By taking BBC Parliament off air on Freeview for three weeks the BBC will be able deliver a sports service on Freeview that is much closer to the service being offered on the other platforms," BBC Parliament controller Peter Knowles wrote on the BBC Editors' blog.

The BBC Trust has given its approval to the change which will take place during Parliament's summer recess. If MPs are recalled, DTT transmission will resume immediately.

BBC Parliament will continue to be broadcast on other platforms.

Knowles added: "It makes complete sense from the viewer's point of view to bring the service on Freeview, where bandwidth is most scarce, up to strength and to have as many interactive streams, showing as many different sports, as possible."

The move was welcomed by Digital Spy forum members.