The BBC has been forced to change the way it covers the Olympics after losing control of the rights to the Games in 2015 – and it’s left many viewers fuming
Back during London 2012, the BBC had the luxury of broadcasting extensive coverage via online and red-button services. But since losing the rights to the Games in 2015, their coverage has been significantly curtailed.
This cutback has triggered a massive outcry among sports enthusiasts, with their frustration boiling over on social media platforms.
One vexed viewer took to Twitter on Sunday to express their annoyance: “So fed up with @ BBC Olympic coverage – constant switches of channel, focus only on GB competitors, too many pundits and unable to find specific sports/events anywhere! Why isn’t there an index on iPlayer so you can watch gymnastics/athletics/archery/hockey etc. #BBCOlympics.”
Another vented their irritation, saying: “Put the Golf on like you promised FFS. Your coverage is all over the place! #BBCOlympics.”, reports the Express.
A third chimed in: “Coverage of the games has been insufferable today. Just show the god damn sports that are on LIVE! ! ! We don’t want all this recap BS! ! #BBCOlympics.”
And a fourth shared their nostalgia and disappointment: “I miss London, Rio etc and having multiple feeds! This feels claustrophobic and the BBC controlling what we can watch. The deal is perfect for them! Too much chat and not enough (limited) action. I am barely bothered with this compared to before. #BBCOlympics.”
BBC’s coverage of the Olympics came under fire from viewers, with one notably irritated viewer asking: “Anyone else annoyed at the BBC coverage of the Olympics? They spend most of it talking and switching channels, show you athletics events after they’ve already happened, and now the golf has just been cut off for cycling and the news… can’t even get it on iPlayer? #BBCOlympics.”
Another user chimed in with: “#bbcolympics you have limited coverage rights so I beg you stop having people talk in a studio giving a nonsense analysis while we have live athletics literally happening in the background. Please show the actual sport @BBCSport.”
The BBC had to modify its Olympic coverage style when Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) acquired the European TV rights in 2015.
The conditions of the deal between the two parties allow BBC to broadcast 250 hours of live coverage on television and via a broadcast stream basically, only uncovering two concurrent events.
This agreement was initiated during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and is expected to last until 2032, encapsulating the Summer Games in Brisbane.
In response to concerns, an official statement on the BBC website elucidates: “Quite simply because we take decisions over our spending very seriously as it is licence fee payers’ money that we are using. As much as we’d like to, we can’t buy everything we want.”