BBC Wimbledon Interactive, the brand new interactive television service developed by BBC Sport and BBC New Media, allows digital satellite viewers to choose the live match they want to watch, from a choice of five, at The Wimbledon Championships 2001.
Throughout Wimbledon 2001 (June 25 – July 8, 2001), the most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, digital satellite viewers can switch courts without leaving their armchair courtside seat.
Peter Salmon, BBC Director of Sport said: ‘BBC Wimbledon Interactive is a view into the the future of televised sport. It’s not just Match of The Day. It’s your own Match of The Day taking in every ace, every line call, every match winner and every heart breaker.’
‘This service isn’t about nuancing or tweaking coverage, playing with sound and structures, or gimmicks. This is fundamental, and it might in time fundamentally change sport broadcasting. This is the first truly interactive sport service to offer real choice for tennis fans and adds real value to existing quality coverage.’
Accessing the service is straightforward.
Viewers watching coverage on BBC ONE or TWO, via digital satellite (Sky), are prompted on-screen to press the red button on their handset to take them through to the Multiscreen. The Multiscreen shows five small screens down the left hand side of the picture: the live match broadcast on the main channel plus four more live matches.
Viewers can choose the live match they want to watch from this choice of five, taken from BBC Sport feeds around the courts of SW19. Live commentary accompanies each match, and each screen has its own dynamically updated scoreboard.
BBC Wimbledon Interactive enhanced text service returns to the screens of digital terrestrial, (ONdigital). The BAFTA award-winning service has a sleek new look. A range of dynamically updating reports, statistics, features, comments and player profiles keep viewers up-to-date on the latest from the Championships. Viewers have access to this breadth of information while still watching the live action unfold in quarter screen.
A new enhanced text service is also provided for digital cable (Telewest) viewers for the first time this year.
Analogue viewers will continue to enjoy over 177 hours of quality, daily live television coverage hosted by the winning ‘mixed doubles’ partnership of Sue Barker, tennis fans’ ladies Number 1 and John Inverdale, popular BBC Sport television and Radio Five Live presenter.
Sue and John are joined by an unrivalled television commentary team. The legendary John McEnroe returns to the BBC Television commentary box with his ‘trade mark rapid fire and elucidatingly honest commentary’ (Daily Telegraph).
Also returning to the BBC Television team for a second year are the ultimate ladies champion and one of the game’s most charismatic and respected figures Martina Navratilova, providing a unique insight into the Ladies Final, serve and volley doyen John Lloyd and former Wimbledon Ladies champion Jana Novotna.
BBC Five Live, the home of live sport, provides everything the listener needs to enjoy Wimbledon fortnight. During more than 100 hours of live coverage, commentary is mixed with reports, celebrity guest interviews, features, gossip, chat and expert analysis. Sony award-winning presenter John Inverdale anchors Five Live’s essential coverage every day. BBC Sport presenter Clare Balding takes over from 6.00pm.
BBC Sport Online at www.bbc.co.uk/wimbledon is an electronic one-stop-shop for all the latest results, reports, reaction, comment audio and video throughout the Championships.
On the accompanying CD Rom full details of the BBC’s tri-media offering from Television, BBC Radio Five Live and BBC Sport Online, plus a walk through the BBC Wimbledon Interactive service, interviews with Peter Salmon and Ashley Highfield, World Service coverage, BBC Resources Outside Broadcast operation and presenters and commentators’ biographies can all be accessed on the accompanying CD Rom.
Further Information:
BBC Sport
020 8225 9900/sport.publicity@bbc.co.uk
BBC New Media
020 7557 3280/chris.charlton@bbc.co.uk
BBC Picture Publicity
8576 8596/matt.bannister@bbc.co.uk