The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and its members will provide the most extensive media coverage of the Olympic Games in history. The Beijing Olympics run from 8 to 24 August.
Having covered the Games since 1956, the EBU will help its members deliver flawless transmissions across all major platforms: television, mobile, Internet and radio. The EBU’s broadcast infrastructure for Beijing is more than double the size of that for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The Eurovision network will bring over 2 000 hours of high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) content from Beijing to national broadcasters across 61 countries in Europe and beyond.
Viewers will be able to watch more than 18 000 hours of television on 118 channels. Over 20 broadcasters will be making Olympic material available on mobile, and 30 broadcasters on their websites in their countries.
An EBU common broadband platform, www.eurovisionsports.tv/olympics, will feature Olympic content. Internet viewers across Europe and beyond will be able to watch live programmes from their preferred national broadcaster, complemented by video coverage distributed by the Eurovision network. The portal will carry over 9 000 hours of video material.
“We look forward to exploiting digital technology to deliver more sport from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to Europe and beyond, than ever before,’ said Jean Reveillon, Director General, EBU.
He added, “By providing broadcasters with standard and high definition pictures and audio, for television, radio and new media, our services will ensure that audiences won’t miss a minute of the excitement anytime, or anywhere in Europe.’
