Some new developments
A quick blog with the answers to two of the questions we're most often asked.
Which events are the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ planning to show in High Definition? And why isn't Sport content available on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer?
Both of them begin from this weekend's (separate blog to follow), and on the first point I'm pleased to report that we'll be covering seven of this year's matches in HD on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s special channels on satellite and cable.
There'd been a degree of uncertainty because we only got permission for a full-service HD channel at the end of last year, so we had to sort out pretty rapidly some budget issues and the logistics of getting the right Outside Broadcast trucks in the right places.
But our team has delivered, and these matches will be in HD: England v Wales, Scotland v France, Wales v Scotland, Wales v Italy, Scotland v England, England v Ireland and Wales v France. Or, to put it another way, home games at the Millennium Stadium, Murrayfield and Twickenham.
Later this year: look out for The Masters, Wimbledon, Euro 2008 and the Olympic Games also in HD.
Then on iPlayer: the issue, as with all sport, is about rights. We can only deliver on the platforms and in the formats permitted by our contracts, though the good news is that our biggest deals - the World Cups and the Olympic Games - allow us to offer our services pretty much however we choose within the UK: TV, radio, broadband, mobile and the rest. The Beijing Olympics will be on the iPlayer, as will our new when it starts in August next year.
We're now delighted to say that the will become the first major sport event to be available through the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ iPlayer, and it means if you've missed our live coverage across all our platforms then you'll have a chance to catch up with the action at the time of your choosing within the following seven days.
It's all part of delivering more ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ sport when and where you want it, so we'll be keen to have your feedback when you've tried the new services.
