With Euro 2012 underway and the Olympics coming, you need to pick the perfect TV bundle to enjoy the action.
This year, British sports fans are all set to enjoy a super summer of sport, so what’s the best way to watch it all?
Whether you want to watch football, tennis, athletics, rugby or motor racing, you need to choose the right television package to get the sports you want beamed into your home. With the right bundle, you can enjoy sport in glorious high-definition (HD) or three-dimensional (3D) pictures. Of course, you'll need an appropriate television set to watch in HD or 3D.
With the help of our friends at award-winning comparison service Broadbandchoices.co.uk, we’ve put together a list of the screenings and set-ups you can expect this summer. However, with the Olympic opening ceremony just [39] days away, you'll need to act quickly to get the most out of your TV.
Olympic wonder
The BBC is going to provide extraordinary blanket coverage of the Olympics – in fact, it’s launching 24 extra live HD channels devoted entirely to coverage of the games.
For the first time ever, British viewers can watch every Olympic sport, live from every venue and from the comfort of their armchairs -- but only if they have the right equipment.
1. HD heaven
The BBC will stream all additional 24 channels in high definition, but to get the most from this service, you'll need to be a Sky HD, Virgin Media (HD/Tivo) or Freesat HD viewer. In other words, you'll have to cough up extra to get comprehensive coverage. (That said, with Freesat, you'll only have to pay for a dish, no subscription is required.)
Freeview customers will have two extra channels each day and customers of BT Vision will also get these (but only in standard definition), taking the Olympic coverage for both to four BBC channels.
Whichever HD option you choose, you must have an HD-ready TV, as well as an HDMI cable to connect your TV and set-top box.
2. 3D thrills
In addition, both the BBC and Eurosport will provide coverage of the Olympics in 3D.
Anyone with a 3D TV set can enjoy limited coverage of Olympic events at select times of the day on the BBC HD channel. Even better, Eurosport will broadcast more than 100 hours of 3D content, available to select Sky and Virgin Media customers.
Sky will make its 3D coverage available to all Sky HD subscribers for the duration of the Olympics, but you'll need a 3D TV connected to a Sky+ HD box.
Virgin Media's 3D Eurosport coverage will go live when the Olympics start on 27 July. Also, households with a TiVo box will be able to use Virgin's catch-up TV service. Be sure to have enough 3D glasses for the whole family!
3. Super streaming
Millions of households now view TV shows through broadband connections, allowing them to watch what they want, when they want. Personally, I love being set free from the usual TV schedules and my family frequently uses BBC iPlayer and similar catch-up services to watch programmes on our iPad.
This summer, anyone with a decent broadband connection will be able to access masses of Olympic coverage from the BBC site -- including over 2,500 hours of video content -- via smartphones, tablet computers, games consoles, laptops and home computers.
For best results, a broadband connection speed of 5Mb or more should be enough to support prolonged video streaming. In addition, you'll need an unlimited or generous monthly download allowance. Otherwise, you could be hit with steep additional charges for excess downloading.
Roughly speaking, one hour of standard video content is around 550MB, but HD content is considerably larger and more bandwidth-heavy.
Where to watch the Olympics
|
Provider |
Main HD coverage |
Full HD coverage (All 24 streams) |
3D coverage (BBC) |
3D coverage (Eurosport) |
Catch-up (depending on set-top box) |
Monthly fee (including HD) from |
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
£25.12 |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
£3.50 |
|
|
Freesat |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
None |
|
|
Y |
£4.00 |
|||||
|
Freeview |
Y |
Y |
Y |
None |
Notes
* Terms and conditions apply. Please see provider websites for more details.
* Freeview HD services are subject to availability in your area.
* Sky HD pack: £5.12 for six months and then £10.50 a month. You must also take an Entertainment Pack at £20 a month.
* Virgin Media HD: TV only from £3.50 for six months and then £7 a month. You must take calls from Virgin Media, plus line rental from £13.90 a month. Virgin Media services available only in Virgin-cabled streets.
* BT Vision requires BT Broadband.
* HD services require an HD-ready television set; 3D services require a 3D set.
Football crazy
You may have heard the news last week that the Premier League has agreed a £3 billion, three-year deal for broadcasting top-flight football matches. From the 2013/14 to 2015/16 seasons, the Premier League will be shown on Sky and, for the first time, BT Vision.
Sky bought five of the seven live-to-air packages, winning the right to show 116 matches a year. BT Vision won the rights to 32 live matches, including 18 of the 38 first-choice games. This means that current incumbent ESPN loses its broadcast rights from 2013/14 onwards.
Therefore, if you're a big footie fan, then you should look into subscribing to Sky and/or BT Vision in order to watch your club. For example, now that West Ham are once again back in the Premier League, I might have to pay for Sky Sports!
LOVEFiLM versus Netflix
Lastly, if you're more of a film fan, then your best bet is to look into the streaming services on offer from rivals LOVEFiLM and Netflix.
Netflix's streaming-only service was launched in the UK in January 2012 and costs just £5.99 a month. LOVEFiLM's packages also include DVD, Blu-ray and games hire, with monthly fees from £4.99 to £14.99. Here's a cool comparison of both providers: The cheapest way to watch films.
Here's wishing you a sizzling summer of sport!
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