BBC expands interactive sport offering

A dedicated Sports Interactive section has been added to BBCi as the corporation prepares for extensive coverage of the Beijing Olympics.

The service is being prepared for changes during the Olympics when it will provide access to several video streams of live events and highlights.

During the games, BBCi on satellite and cable will carry up to six streams, while on Freeview the BBC Parliament capacity will be used to provide three streams.

"The Olympics will be the BBC's biggest ever interactive operation,” the corporation said. "Available via the red button, it will enable satellite and cable viewers to choose from up to six channels of action, 24 hours a day.

"Freeview viewers will have access to three extra streams in addition to the offerings on BBC One and BBC Two – the first time that Freeview has ever offered three interactive streams."

The BBC added: "Olympics Interactive will be a 24-hour service offering a huge choice of sports as well as a full text service offering a medals table, news stories, reports and an events schedule.

“Between 2am and 6pm BST, Interactive will show the best of the day's action, much of it live, and after that replay the major events of the day to allow viewers to catch up on any sports they may have missed.”

Sports Interactive will remain as a permanent feature after the Olympics, though plans for its content have yet to be confirmed.