Updated / Viewers can choose between around 250 hours of free coverage, or 3,800 hours via streaming. Sky and EE TV viewers will need to take action to access full coverage of the Olympics.
- Only streamers have access to every televised event
- Pay TV customers will have restricted access
- 4K UHD on Virgin Media, but not on Discovery+ or BBC.
After just a three year wait following the delayed Tokyo 2020 games, Paris takes its turn to host the Olympics.
For TV fans, the situation is more complex than ever, depending on how you access TV.
| Type of TV service | Type of coverage |
|---|---|
| Free-to-air TV Freeview, Freely, Freesat or Saorview (ROI) | Basic coverage (250 hours) BBC One/BBC RB1 (UK); RTÉ One/2 (Ireland) |
| Pay TV Sky, Virgin Media, EE TV | Enhanced coverage The above, plus coverage from Eurosport. Sky and EE TV users can also add Discovery+. |
| Streaming TV Discovery+ (Available at no extra charge via Sky and EE TV, find the app in the apps menu) | Full coverage (3,800 hours) All of Eurosport’s coverage and 55+ live event streams |
Once again, due to changes to broadcast rights, the BBC in the UK and RTÉ in Ireland are limited to around 250 hours of live coverage. Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) through Eurosport and Discovery+ will offer extensive coverage.
Sky UK/ROI and EE TV viewers expecting to be able to access Eurosport’s full Olympic offer may be disappointed. You’ll still need to access the Discovery+ app for full coverage. That means it won’t be possible to select and record live channel streams of every event directly from the main channel list.
EE has added Eurosport 3-9, but not UHD. All live events not on the Eurosport linear channels will be on the Discovery+ app, which is available on EE TV boxes.
Sky Q, Sky Stream and Sky Glass users can get Discovery+ at no extra cost, but need to activate access first.
TNT Sports subscribers with EE TV are also able to get free access to Discovery+.
Update 24/07/2024: EE has now opened up access to Discovery+ to all TV customers until 12th August. More details…
▶ Overview: Where to find the Olympics on pay TV/streaming
Eurosport and Discovery+ offer fans extended coverage. Full coverage is only available through the Discovery+ app.
🕖 Eurosport will offer around the clock coverage, with live events typically between 7am and 10:30pm.
<> Swipe sideways on mobile devices to see full table.
| Sky satellite | Sky Stream / Glass | Virgin Media UK | Virgin Media Ireland | EE TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurosport 1 HD | 413 | 417 | 521 | 413 | 435 |
| Eurosport 2 HD | 414 | 418 | 522 | 414 | 436 |
| Eurosport 3 HD | 563 | 415 | 487 | ||
| Eurosport 4 HD | 564 | 416 | 488 | ||
| Eurosport 5 HD | 565 | 417 | 489 | ||
| Eurosport 6 HD | 566 | 418 | 490 | ||
| Eurosport 7 HD | 567 | 419 | 491 | ||
| Eurosport 8 HD | 568 | 420 | 492 | ||
| Eurosport 9 HD | 569 | 421 | 493 | ||
| Eurosport UHD | 🔴TBC^ | 🔴TBC^ | 523 | TBC*** | N/A |
| Discovery+ All of the above, plus 55+ live event streams | ✅ Sky Q only* | ✅* | ❌ | ✅ | ✅** |
**Free access to Discovery+ Olympic coverage for TNT Sports subscribers.
^Eurosport UHD red button coverage on Sky platforms to be confirmed.
▶ Overview: Free-to-air Olympic coverage
In the UK, free-to-air coverage is available on BBC One and BBC RB 1 (Olympics Extra). Press red on BBC One for BBC RB1/Olympic Extra coverage.
🕖 BBC One coverage will run between 8am and midnight on most days. BBC Two will take over coverage during the BBC News at 1, 6 and 10, as it’s not technically possible to move regional news to BBC Two.
🕖 BBC RB 1 (called Olympics Extra on iPlayer) will typically run between 7:30am and 11:30pm. On some mornings, the service will start earlier.
BBC One’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony starts at 5:45pm on Friday 26th July. BBC RB1/Olympics Extra’s coverage starts earlier. It will have coverage of the Rugby Sevens, which start on Wednesday 24th July 2024.
In the Republic of Ireland, RTÉ‘s channels will provide live coverage.
While Sky Ireland customers will also have access to BBC One HD’s coverage, BBC RB1 will be not be available.
UHD
Unlike viewers in France, who’ll be able to enjoy full UHD coverage on France 2 UHD and France 3 UHD, even on digital terrestrial TV (TV through an aerial), UK viewers will only have limited 4K access. Eurosport 4K UHD has been reactivated on Virgin Media, with a red button UHD option on Sky still to be confirmed by both WBD and Sky.
Instead, Discovery+ coverage will be enhanced by the deployment of HDR (High Dynamic Range), allowing for sharper colour on existing HD broadcasts.
BBC iPlayer coverage is HD only.
By: Marc Thornham
updated Friday 19th July with confirmation of EE TV channel numbers. Interestingly, WBD weren’t originally able to confirm Eurosport 3-9 availability on EE TV, unlike other platforms.
updated Wednesday 24th July with link to more information about EE’s Discovery+ upgrade.