BBC Sport
BBC Sport first appeared as a unified brand in 1988 during the Summer Olympics held in Seoul. A short animation featuring a globe circumnavigated by four colored rings introduced this new identity to viewers. This visual package remained consistent for two decades before evolving again. In May 2007, the BBC Trust approved plans to move several departments including BBC Sport to Salford. The department moved into Quay House at MediaCityUK gradually between late 2011 and early 2012. On the 5th of March 2012, the first Sports bulletins were broadcast from the new BBC Sport Centre. By 2017, BBC Sport launched a new on-air identity becoming the first BBC property to implement the broadcaster's new corporate typeface. The online presence began when sport was included in the BBC News website launch of 1997. The current website look was implemented in February 2012 with a bold color scheme and horizontal navigation bar.
The BBC holds exclusive terrestrial rights to show both Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Live coverage has been shown for every Summer Olympics since 1960. The current rights deal extends through the 2032 Summer Olympics. For the 2018 Winter Olympics, the BBC entered sub-licensing agreements with Discovery Communications covering 2018 through 2024. The BBC shares rights to the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship with ITV. A near equal split of group stage and knockout stage games are shown across both networks. The BBC aired all matches from the 2018 World Cup in 4K UHD and VR to limited viewers subject to bandwidth constraints. Cricket highlights of all England home Tests, ODIs and T20Is run until 2028. Live broadcasts include eight men's and eight women's matches from The Hundred. The Wimbledon contract has been held by the BBC since 1927 and lasts until 2024 making it the longest such contract in the world. Over 900 hours of footage is distributed to broadcasters in 159 countries. The Six Nations championship rights extend to 2029 shared with ITV Sport.
Grandstand was one of the more notable sport programmes broadcasting for almost 50 years before its end. Match of the Day remains a flagship show hosted by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan. Match of 2 and Match of 2 Extra are presented by Mark Chapman. Alex Scott hosts Football Focus every Saturday lunchtime while Jason Mohammad presents Final Score every Saturday afternoon. Pundits for Match of the Day include Alan Shearer, Robbie Savage, Chris Sutton, Don Hutchison, Mark Lawrenson, Danny Murphy, Kevin Kilbane, Jermaine Jenas, Martin Keown, Stephen Warnock, Rio Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, Alex Scott, Faye White, Sue Smith, Lucy Ward, Chris Waddle, Cese Fabregas, Ian Wright and Tony Pulis. Commentators include Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce, Simon Brotherton, Steve Bower, Dave Woods, Vicki Sparks, Jacqui Oatley, Alistair Mann, Conor McNamara, Dan O'Hagan, Mark Tompkins, Martin Fisher, Gary Bloom, John Roder, Mark Scott, Chris Wise, Robyn Cowen, Tom Gayle, Steven Wyeth and Pien Muelensteen. Test Match Special features commentators Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell, Ebony Rainford-Brent, Alastair Cook and James Anderson alongside presenter Isa Guha. Today At Wimbledon is presented by Clare Balding who replaced John Inverdale in 2015.
The BBC Sport website launched and was relaunched in 2003 to accommodate bigger screen sizes with a sidebar for more sport content. The current look implemented in February 2012 featured the bold color scheme of the logo and new horizontal navigation bar across the whole site. An app for Smart TVs was released in 2012 but will be retired in 2020 with most video content moved to the iPlayer Smart TV app. The BBC Sport app launched on the iOS app store in January 2013 followed by an Android version in February that year. Until 2011, the website hosted an online sports forum entitled 606 named after the original start-time of the radio programme six minutes past six. Users accessed through an account system to comment and rate opinions on topics including cricket football rugby tennis athletics motorsport and many others. As part of the reduction in BBC Online's budget of 25%, all non-essential services were closed. The site was closed on the 31st of May 2011 as conversations increasingly shifted to social media websites. The BBC Red Button interactive television service offers a multi-screen service covering sports news stories plus five streams broadcasting sport.
In May 2007, the BBC Trust approved plans for several departments including BBC Sport to move to Salford. The new development at MediaCityUK marks a major decentralisation from London and key investment in the north of England where spending had previously been low. The department moved into Quay House gradually between late 2011 and early 2012. On the 5th of March 2012, the first Sports bulletins were broadcast from the new BBC Sport Centre. This relocation represented a significant shift in regional broadcasting investment patterns across the United Kingdom. The move aimed to balance production resources outside the capital while maintaining national coverage standards. The physical transfer involved staff transitioning from traditional London studios to the modern facilities in Salford Quays. This change coincided with broader digital transformation efforts within the corporation.
Common questions
When did BBC Sport first appear as a unified brand?
BBC Sport first appeared as a unified brand in 1988 during the Summer Olympics held in Seoul. A short animation featuring a globe circumnavigated by four colored rings introduced this new identity to viewers.
Where is the BBC Sport Centre located and when did operations begin there?
The department moved into Quay House at MediaCityUK gradually between late 2011 and early 2012. On the 5th of March 2012, the first Sports bulletins were broadcast from the new BBC Sport Centre.
Which Olympic Games does BBC Sport hold exclusive rights to show until 2032?
The current rights deal extends through the 2032 Summer Olympics. Live coverage has been shown for every Summer Olympics since 1960.
Who presents Match of the Day on BBC Sport?
Match of the Day remains a flagship show hosted by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan. The programme features pundits including Alan Shearer, Robbie Savage, Chris Sutton, Don Hutchison, Mark Lawrenson, Danny Murphy, Kevin Kilbane, Jermaine Jenas, Martin Keown, Stephen Warnock, Rio Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, Alex Scott, Faye White, Sue Smith, Lucy Ward, Chris Waddle, Cese Fabregas, Ian Wright and Tony Pulis.
When was the online sports forum 606 closed by BBC Sport?
The site was closed on the 31st of May 2011 as conversations increasingly shifted to social media websites. This closure occurred as part of the reduction in BBC Online's budget of 25% where all non-essential services were closed.