After a pandemic-related year off, the BBC is once again providing additional red button coverage of Wimbledon via satellite and cable.
The BBC will be broadcasting six standard definition Red Button streams from Wimbledon this year, plus one HD simulcast of BBC RB 1. BBC RB 1 is the red button stream that is permanently available on all digital TV platforms. BBC RB 2 – RB 6 and BBC RB HD will be added to Sky, Freesat and Virgin Media later this month.
Test transmissions have begun on satellite. Sky and Freesat viewers will gain access to the extra streams just before Wimbledon starts. Virgin Media will add the streams at about the same time.
Extra coverage of Wimbledon, giving viewers a choice of action from across the tennis courts of SW19 has now been going for two decades. It was one of the earliest applications of the Red Button by the BBC, providing tennis fans with an incentive to switch to digital TV.
However, the number of viewers accessing the service continues to dwindle. It’s because all newer receivers, including Sky Q and the latest Freesat box can access the extra streams via the internet. This has also benefitted Freeview viewers, where due to capacity limitations, the full enhanced service isn’t available. All Freeview Play devices can access the extra Wimbledon streams by pressing the red button on BBC One/Two (SD/HD) and navigating to the iPlayer streams.
BBC Red Button satellite tests
- Astra 2F 28.2E
- 12422 H
- DVB-S, QPSK,
- Symbol Rate: 27500 (27.5)
- FEC: 2/3
- SID 6802-6806 and 6811 HD