BBC is a bit shite… how to watch OLYMPICS??

[Marmalade]

It seems that the beeb, even with catch-up, have very limited coverage. Having downloaded an Olympics timetable it’s easy to circle the sports I’d like to watch, and preferably when I want to watch them (as opposed to tuning in at the exact moment they begin). I wouldn’t have thought it’s too hard to manage for a broadcaster, especially a tax-funded one… but apparently I was mistaken.

So what’s the best option?

I’m happy to pay a month’s subscription as long as I can cancel after the first month. Has anyone really looked into this?

[Matrix]

I've no interest in it, but heard it has some availability on Youtube.

External Link/Members Only Has other linked channels, dependent on which sport.

No idea if this is worth a toss, so good luck anyway.

[Matrix]

External Link/Members Only

[Marmalade]

External Link/Members Only

Yes, I’ve seen the ads for Discovery+, Eurosport and YouTube+ but they’re skimpy on what you get.

I have no interest in bloating on as much olympics as possible or whatever happens to be shown at a certain time.

My time for this is not exhaustive. I want about 5 specific sports of my choice and preferably on demand do I’m not tied to their timetable.

I’ll be surprised if there aren’t some sports fans who are well clued up about it?

[winkywanky]

It seems that the beeb, even with catch-up, have very limited coverage. Having downloaded an Olympics timetable it’s easy to circle the sports I’d like to watch, and preferably when I want to watch them (as opposed to tuning in at the exact moment they begin). I wouldn’t have thought it’s too hard to manage for a broadcaster, especially a tax-funded one… but apparently I was mistaken.

So what’s the best option?

I’m happy to pay a month’s subscription as long as I can cancel after the first month. Has anyone really looked into this?

Eurosportplayer? I've used this for particular sports I like.

You can also search for/watch sports by category, I don't know whether they've 'Olympicised' this aspect?

Technical note: depending on how good your telly is (and how bothered you are) although the videofeed is full HD (possibly even 4K, some of their broadcasts are now?) you may find it slightly 'stuttery', not totally smooth, almost as if some of the frames have been 'thrown away'. I've let them know about this. I successfully stream Netflix and Prime so it's not at my end. I guess possibly a Codec issue, but I don't know enough about it.
If you have motion smoothing turned on on your telly, perhaps it mightn't be so bad?

Oh, and the licence fee isn't a tax.

[Clitheroelad]

Streaming live on Discovery + apparently.

[winkywanky]

Interestingly, Eurosport have the Discovery+ logo at the bottom of their screen for streaming.

So either some kind of business arrangement, or maybe Eurosport are part of the Discovery 'group'?

[mr.bluesky]

Interestingly, Eurosport have the Discovery+ logo at the bottom of their screen for streaming.

So either some kind of business arrangement, or maybe Eurosport are part of the Discovery 'group'?

Yes you are correct. Discovery channel is a subsidiary of Eurosports 

[winkywanky]

...not the other way around? I thought Discovery were way bigger than Eurosport.

[winkywanky]

Here: External Link/Members Only

[davxx]

If you have SKY Sports the channels between 981 and 990 all have the Olympics either BBC or Eurosport coverage.
Eurosport Red button on channel 410 has options as well.

[sanchez]

4K on Eurosport also a little disappointing as there doesn’t seems to be any commentary to go with it.

Agree with the OP the bbc coverage seems a little jumbled. I also think it is also hurt a little by them not broadcasting live from Tokyo which is understandable but due to covid but it leaves the broadcasts lacking a little.

[Davey Dykes]

I've spent a decent part of the day watching it on 601,quite enjoyed it. Women's boxing on now and they have Richie Woodhall commentating who I rated as a boxer and gives a decent insight on the commentry.

[lamboman]

BBC can only show 2 live events and seem more interested in talking than showing actual events which is ideal as they don't have much to show.
Just buy a Eurosport pass.

[Marmalade]

Yes beeb do go s lot of intro waffle though at least there’s commentary.  Surprised to hear commentary’s not the case on Eurosport. Maybe that will apply to Discovery? Eurosport has a good interface. A bit concerned that Discovery might not include *all* of Eurosport’s channels so Eurosport still seems the one to go for.

A kind gentleman sent me a URL that needs a VPN which is great for my devices though I think I still want something that works on a tv screen as well. 

Olympics site has some useful stuff on rules and scoring so commentary not quite so necessary once one’s up to speed. 

[winkywanky]

4K on Eurosport also a little disappointing as there doesn’t seems to be any commentary to go with it.

Agree with the OP the bbc coverage seems a little jumbled. I also think it is also hurt a little by them not broadcasting live from Tokyo which is understandable but due to covid but it leaves the broadcasts lacking a little.

Yes, you're right! Bizarre! Schoolboy error on their part.

[winkywanky]

Yes beeb do go s lot of intro waffle though at least there’s commentary.  Surprised to hear commentary’s not the case on Eurosport. Maybe that will apply to Discovery? Eurosport has a good interface. A bit concerned that Discovery might not include *all* of Eurosport’s channels so Eurosport still seems the one to go for.

A kind gentleman sent me a URL that needs a VPN which is great for my devices though I think I still want something that works on a tv screen as well. 

Olympics site has some useful stuff on rules and scoring so commentary not quite so necessary once one’s up to speed.

You could solve that by getting a UHD 4K Amazon Firestick plugged into your telly, and then loading it up with Apps such as Disco+ and Eurosportplayer. Also load up your VPN on it.

They were doing them for £25 a pop recently.

[Marmalade]

You could solve that by getting a UHD 4K Axxxxxx Firestick plugged into your telly, and then loading it up with Apps such as Disco+ and Eurosportplayer. Also load up your VPN on it.

They were doing them for £25 a pop recently.

I’ve got Eurosport app pre-loaded. But thanks for the suggestion.

[davxx]

Sam Quek on BBC earlier was a nice way to waken up to, along with the 3 golds so far.. 

[smiths]

Sam Quek on BBC earlier was a nice way to waken up to, along with the 3 golds so far..

Yes she has glammed up, always a decent looker but now looks even better to my eyes. I think she is going to be the new co-host of Question Of Sport someone told me as well.

I am liking the BBC Olympic coverage so far and thank fuck its on the BBC and not a channel with constant advert breaks.

[mr.bluesky]

Yes she has glammed up, always a decent looker but now looks even better to my eyes. I think she is going to be the new co-host of Question Of Sport someone told me as well.

I am liking the BBC Olympic coverage so far and thank fuck its on the BBC and not a channel with constant advert breaks.

Yes she is going to be one of the new team captains on question of sport 

[winkywanky]

I’ve got Eurosport app pre-loaded. But thanks for the suggestion.

The Firestick would allow you to access your other Apps via the VPN, that was my point. I'm not sure your smart telly would do that by itself? 

[Rick2468]

Really feel the games is passing me by this year and I'm a bit gutted about it as it is a one if four year event but I just can't seem to stir any excitement up. I recorded the opening ceremony and started watching it on Friday evening but just seemed boring so I bailed on it.

[winkywanky]

Unavoidably in the current situation, there are no crowds at the venues. No atmosphere at all, which you do pick up on at home. It's very sad, I feel really sorry for the Japanese hosts  .

[nwluvit]

Apparently Eurosport have the rights.
Beeb have to pick and choose.
How did the Olympics cock this one up!
Beeb has previously covered it really well. Guess they were outbid.

[winkywanky]

Apparently Eurosport have the rights.
Beeb have to pick and choose.
How did the Olympics cock this one up!
Beeb has previously covered it really well. Guess they were outbid.

In what sense do Eurosport 'have the rights' and the BBC don't? AFAIK the BBC have access to all the events and cover what they want?

[winkywanky]

Ah, you are correct: External Link/Members Only

The BBC don't have streaming rights, Discovery do, and Eurosport are part of Discovery.

[Rick2468]

Unavoidably in the current situation, there are no crowds at the venues. No atmosphere at all, which you do pick up on at home. It's very sad, I feel really sorry for the Japanese hosts  .

Crowds add so much. I remember after the final whistle when England beat Germany at Euro 2020 the team did a lap of honour and I thought how shit it would have been if noone was there. I caught a bit of the Cricket 100 last week and the merry atmosphere was great to see.

[nwluvit]

Crowds add so much. I remember after the final whistle when England beat Germany at Euro 2020 the team did a lap of honour and I thought how shit it would have been if noone was there. I caught a bit of the Cricket 100 last week and the merry atmosphere was great to see.

Yeah, but I was in Paris the year before the World Cup.
England won the Tournoi, beating Italy and France on the way, but lost the final game to Brazil, who had drawn their first 2 games!!.
They rather sheepishly did a lap of honour!! Quite large contingent of English fans did not know whether to laugh, cry or applaud!!
External Link/Members Only

[Gordon Bennett]

Apparently Eurosport have the rights.
Beeb have to pick and choose.
How did the Olympics cock this one up!
Beeb has previously covered it really well. Guess they were outbid.

It's not a cockup. Beeb could not afford the rights,  Discovery could. The rights go to highest bidder. The BBC were a bit coy about things at first, tried to keep it quiet. However, they were getting so much flack for their ham-fisted disjointed coverage Dan Walker had to fess up live on air yesterday and explain they did not have full access and could only cover a maximum of two events simultaneously. With several events going on they were kind of fucked really.

[smiths]

Yes she is going to be one of the new team captains on question of sport 

Yes just goes to show being a looker AND an Olympic Gold Medallist can open doors, good luck to her.

[lamboman]

In what sense do Eurosport 'have the rights' and the BBC don't? AFAIK the BBC have access to all the events and cover what they want?

Because ES can show any live events but as I said the BBC can only pick 2.

[winkywanky]

Because ES can show any live events but as I said the BBC can only pick 2.

Yes I know, I acknowledged that about one minute later in my very next post  .

[spiralnotebook]

I’m supporting Greta Thundberg (or whatever her name is) and saving the planet by turning the tv off.
Like yeah err man.

[sparkus]

My favourite image of the games so far: External Link/Members Only

Enjoying the women's gymnastic coverage, what great athletes they are.

Simone Biles' thighs

[mr.bluesky]

My favourite image of the games so far: External Link/Members Only

Enjoying the women's gymnastic coverage, what great athletes they are.

Simone Biles' thighs

I noticed the women's skateboard goldmedal winner was only 13 years old. The average age of all the podium winners 14 years old !.

[lamboman]

I noticed the women's skateboard goldmedal winner was only 13 years old. The average age of all the podium winners 14 years old !.

I noticed it was piss boring,childrens skate boarding FFS.

[winkywanky]

I noticed it was piss boring, childrens skate boarding FFS.

Probably because you are old and boring 

[LLPunting]

I noticed it was piss boring,childrens skate boarding FFS.

We could've had a serious amount of chum in the water at the men's Triathlon yesterday, alas the athletes noticed the fuck-off big prop-driven boat in front of them and didn't dive in... call them competitors!

Why all the watercraft weren't waterjet driven I don't understand...   

[smiths]

Great achievement for Georgia Taylor-Brown in my view getting the Silver in the Womens Triathlon, about 2k from transition she got a puncture in her back tyre, and it was soaking wet. She was 22 seconds behind or so due to this but ran through all but the winner.

[winkywanky]

We could've had a serious amount of chum in the water at the men's Triathlon yesterday, alas the athletes noticed the fuck-off big prop-driven boat in front of them and didn't dive in... call them competitors!

Why all the watercraft weren't waterjet driven I don't understand...   

Yes, there have been some serious operational cock-ups by the Japanese so far at these Games

[winkywanky]

Great achievement for Georgia Taylor-Brown in my view getting the Silver in the Womens Triathlon, about 2k from transition she got a puncture in her back tyre, and it was soaking wet. She was 22 seconds behind or so due to this but ran through all but the winner.

Yes, I think without the puncture she may well have won?

Young lad called Pidcock was awesomely good in the MTB race yesterday to get Gold, he's only 21 as well.

[lamboman]

Probably because you are old and boring 

I may be old but I'm far from boring  I can find entertainment in most sports bar baseball obviously but childrens skateboarding is just plain rubbish.

[winkywanky]

I may be old but I'm far from boring  I can find entertainment in most sports bar baseball obviously but childrens skateboarding is just plain rubbish.

It's not children's skateboarding is it? I don't think? Anyone can enter. Correct me if I am wrong.

It's never too late to get your fifteen minutes of fame you know, you could get a skateboard off Amazon for £20.

Even if I am wrong, what's wrong with inspiring kids to get into sport?

[lamboman]

It's not children's skateboarding is it? I don't think? Anyone can enter. Correct me if I am wrong.

It's never too late to get your fifteen minutes of fame you know, you could get a skateboard off Axxxxxx for £20.

Even if I am wrong, what's wrong with inspiring kids to get into sport?

I've had a lot more than 15 minutes of fame  ,each to their own you enjoy children skateboarding nobody I've spoken to young or old thought it entertaining but that's fine.
They've dropped or not included much more worthy sports in the relentless pursuit of a young audience which won't be watching anyway.

[winkywanky]

I've had a lot more than 15 minutes of fame  ,each to their own you enjoy children skateboarding nobody I've spoken to young or old thought it entertaining but that's fine.
They've dropped or not included much more worthy sports in the relentless pursuit of a young audience which won't be watching anyway.

Is it 'Children's skateboarding' though, or have you simply chosen to give it that name?

Indeed, each to their own. I only like about 30% of the sports anyway, Taekwondo is my particuular pet hate: watching two grown adults trying to kick each other when at my school you used fisticuffs, because kicking was just plain nasty and for 'big girls' who couldn't fight.

If you don't like it then you can always make sure you catch the Beach Volleyball, I know I shall be  .

[Marmalade]

I noticed it was piss boring,childrens skate boarding FFS.

It was a remarkable new addition to the Olympics. I wonder if they’ll be as good when they’re adults.

[The0neAnd0nly]

Haha reckon everybody already knows but it's not child skateboarding. There is no age limit on entry into the competitions which is great as the best skateboarders in the world for the last 10 or 15 years have been teenagers.

Tony Hawk is 53 I think and hes also competing. I think its great the age range is so wide it's all based on talent so age shouldn't be a restriction   

Also the sport is ever evolving. A 900 degree turn was the absolute pinnacle for a long time and recently a 12 year old broke thr record hitting a 1080 degree rotation in competition.
External Link/Members Only

[smiths]

Yes, I think without the puncture she may well have won?

Young lad called Pidcock was awesomely good in the MTB race yesterday to get Gold, he's only 21 as well.

Certainly possible she could of won but Duffy was great, Annie Emerson who was co-commentating had only a few mins earlier talked about the increased risk of getting a puncture in wet conditions. In the studio Non Stanton who said she was now training Katie Zaferes of the US who came third was looking good, I didn't recognise her with civvy clothes on till her name came up on screen.

I am not a fan of Swimming particularly but great to see a Team GB Gold and Silver, the first time that's happened since 1908. Also great commentary as ever by Andy Jamieson and Adrian Moorhouse, they bounce off each other really well. I noticed a chill in the air in the presenters studio between JJ Chalmers who is an appalling presenter in my view and Mark Foster who was summarising during the Swimming races.

[smiths]

Is it 'Children's skateboarding' though, or have you simply chosen to give it that name?

Indeed, each to their own. I only like about 30% of the sports anyway, Taekwondo is my particuular pet hate: watching two grown adults trying to kick each other when at my school you used fisticuffs, because kicking was just plain nasty and for 'big girls' who couldn't fight.

If you don't like it then you can always make sure you catch the Beach Volleyball, I know I shall be  .

Make the most of the Beach Volleyball as PC is sweeping in, the popstar Pink has offered to pay a fine given to 1 of the teams for not wearing Bikini bottoms but shorts like the men. I reckon by the next Olympics it will be shorts all round if thats what the teams want to wear. The Germans in the Gymnastics have already ditched the leotards for full length suits.

I know this is on a global stage obviously but it does make me laugh, at this time of year I often see absolute pigs out and about wearing next to nothing with rippling fat and cellulite putting me off my sandwich. Seeing fit adult women with not much on is 1 of the reasons I watch certain sports. 1 of the few upsides in my area to the first lockdown is the amazing number of hotties I saw wearing next to nothing last year out jogging as their Gyms were shut. Some looked like Supermodels, I nearly crashed a few times leering at them.