The channels are being made available to television platforms on a non-exclusive basis.

Full coverage of this summer's Olympics can now be accessed on dedicated live HD and SD channels running simultaneously at peak times during the Games while Eurosport and Sky have promised 3D coverage of the event.

The BBC's 48 dedicated Olympics channels, which are being created specifically for the Games, will launch into Sky's Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) from July 24 and show live action from each of the 26 sports.

Alongside the coverage on the existing BBC channels, Sky homes will be able to tune into 2,500 hours' worth of live BBC coverage throughout the Games.

As with the other HD channels on the Sky platform, the new ones will broadcast in both 1080i and wide-screen to enhance the viewing experience while the BBC's Olympics coverage will also be accessible via the Red Button.

"The London Olympics is a huge event in 2012 and one that we are all looking forward to," said Stephen van Rooyen, managing director of Sky's Sales and Marketing.


"We believe that the best way to watch the Olympics is in glorious HD as it offers the best possible viewing experience and, supported by Sky+, the flexibility of watching the action at a time that suits them.

"We're delighted that every single Sky home will have the opportunity to enjoy unprecedented coverage of the biggest UK sporting event in a generation."

The channels are free-to-air and available to any Sky home, including Freesat.

The HD channels are available via any Sky+HD box and although they do not require a subscription can only be shown on an HD-ready TV.

Customers will require a Sky subscription in order to use Sky+.

In addition to the live Olympic coverage scheduled to be broadcast over the new BBC channels, full Games action will also be available on BBC One, BBC One HD, BBC HD, BBC Two, BBC Three and the BBC News Channel, all of which will also be available to all 10.3 million Sky homes.

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