BBC braced for huge London 2012 Olympics viewing figures

The BBC has said that it expects more than three quarters of the UK population to watch its coverage of the London Olympics next year.

Roger Mosey, the head of BBC Olympics coverage, said that the corporation thinks viewing figures for the UK Games will be on a par with previous Olympics.

He said that 75% of the TV audience tuned in to BBC coverage of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, despite the time difference issues, while 80% watched the Athens games in 2004, reports The Daily Telegraph.

"We are expecting 75% to 80% to be the broad figure [for London]," Mosey told a meeting of international broadcasters.

"Interest is building slowly, evidence from the past host cities is that it takes off in the final year."

Mosey confirmed that the majority of the BBC's coverage would be aired on BBC One, along with 24 dedicated internet and interactive TV channels.

Gary Fenton, the Olympics head of the Australian rights-holder Channel Nine, said that the dour British weather would not be an issue for broadcasters.

However, both Mosey and Fenton said that the biggest challenge facing the organisers would be the safe transport of officials, athletes and spectators.

"Getting them in and getting them out, we are not sure how it will work," said Fenton.

Both Fenton and Mosey also agreed that the biggest television audience during the Games would most likely come from the men's 100 metres final.

In June, the BBC selected sports media services company deltatre as the main television graphics provider for its coverage of London 2012.

The corporation also offered live 3D coverage of this month's Wimbledon Finals to digital TV platforms, possibly offering a glimpse as to how it could run live 3D broadcasts of the Games.