The BBC’s Red Button service will be expanded on satellite to provide additional coverage of summer events, including Wimbledon.
The additional Red Button feeds primarily benefit viewers with older receivers that can’t access the BBC’s iPlayer feeds. BBC iPlayer is providing extra feeds in HD and UHD, while most traditional Red Button feeds are in standard definition only.
Sky and Freesat users will gain access to the extra satellite feeds from Thursday 23rd June. This means viewers can also access everything BBC RB 1 offers in High Definition through the simulcast service ‘BBC RB HD’.
What’s on?
From Friday 24th through to Sunday 26th June, BBC RB 1 and BBC RB HD will showcase live coverage of the UK Athletics Championships and the World Triathlon Championships. There is also live coverage of the Men’s U19 Championship fixture between Israel and England on Saturday 25th at 19:00.
Wimbledon
From Monday 27th June, BBC RB1-6 and BBC RB HD will provide full coverage from Wimbledon. Additional feeds, plus UHD coverage from Centre Court will be available through the connected Red Button / iPlayer on compatible smart TVs and boxes.
Glastonbury – connected Red Button only
The BBC has opted to offer additional coverage from Glastonbury through its connected Red Button service and iPlayer, rather than on the traditional BBC RB 1 feed. You can access the connected Red Button on Sky Q, all newer Freesat boxes and smart TVs, plus Virgin Media and Freeview Play devices. On these devices, pressing red will direct you to the relevant area iPlayer feeds. iPlayer coverage this year includes live UHD coverage of selected events from the Pyramid Stage.
BBC One, Two, Three and Four will also offer Glastonbury coverage. However, BBC Three’s coverage is less extensive than it was on the ‘original’ incarnation of the channel in the years leading up to its closure.
BBC Red Button HD retained for Commonwealth Games
BBC Red Button HD will be retained beyond Wimbledon, running until the end of the Commonwealth Games. It will be removed on 9th August.
Where to find the extra Red Button streams on satellite from Thursday 23rd June
Freesat
980 BBC RB HD (Simulcast of BBC RB 1 in HD)
981 BBC RB 1
982 BBC RB 2
983 BBC RB 3
984 BBC RB 4
985 BBC RB 5
986 BBC RB 6
Press red on compatible connected Freesat boxes and smart TVs for additional live feeds, delivered through the iPlayer to your receiver.
Sky UK
🔄 981 BBC RB 1 HD/SD
982 BBC RB 2
983 BBC RB 3
984 BBC RB 4
985 BBC RB 5
986 BBC RB 6
🔄 987 BBC RB 1 (SD/HD swap for HD boxes)
Press red on Sky Q boxes for additional live feeds, delivered through the iPlayer to your box.
BBC Red Button satellite manual tuning parameters
Satellite: Astra 2F 28.2E Frequency: 12422 Polarisation: Horizontal Mode: DVB-S, QPSK, Symbol Rate: 27500 (27.5) FEC: 2/3 SID: 6802-6806 and 6811 HD [The BBC RB HD channel will show BBC News HD until it launches.]
(BBC Red Button is not available on Sky in the Republic of Ireland.)
Updated 12:40 23/06/2022 with Commonwealth Games details