Rio 2016 TV guide – how to watch Olympics: Don’t miss out with our complete guide
The Beeb are pumping out more than 3,000 HOURS in total - stay across the Games with our complete guide here
THIS Olympic Games is the most-televised in history, with the BBC ambitiously planning to show every single sport live every day of the competition.
The Beeb are pumping out more than 3,000 HOURS in total over the next 17 days as all eyes focus on Rio.
There will be a huge 550 hours of top-class sporting action on BBC1 and BBC4 — plus 24 dedicated HD live streams to pick which sport you want to watch.
And because of the four-hour time difference between Brazil and the UK, much of the sporting scenes will be viewed on catch-up or in the early hours of the morning.
Here are the best ways to watch the Games — during the day or through the night — where to find highlight shows, as well as the stellar line-up of pundits on parade through the Games . . .
FOR THE INSOMNIACS...
The BBC is the only UK channel broadcasting from the Games, so it’s the place to be if you want to see Team GB taking part.
They’ll be showing a massive 550 hours of live coverage across BBC1 and BBC4 from 1pm to 4am every single day.
Coverage will only switch to BBC2 during the news. As well as this, up to eight live streams will also be available via the Red Button too — meaning fans will be able to watch their favourite sports wherever they are, on whatever device they like.
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IF YOU LIKE YOUR SLEEP...
VIEWERS are going to be up to their neck in highlights.
BBC Breakfast will temporarily move the famous red sofa into BBC Sport and bring viewers all the highlights and extended Games coverage every day from 6am. This will then be followed by a replay programme with all the best of the action from 9.15am to 1pm.
PLUS ONLINE AND APPS
THE BBC has teamed up with YouTube to show full online Olympic highlights via the BBC Sport YouTube channel.
BBC iPlayer will also show the Olympic Playlist, a daily Rio 2016 highlights package featuring the best late-night action.
In total, there will be 24 HD streams across the website and on mobile. The Facebook and Twitter accounts of the Rio Games will also run highlights and updates.
There are two official apps — Rio 2016 and Olympics. Streaming will also be available on the BBC Olympics app.
PRESENTING TEAM
HAZEL IRVINE will kick off BBC1’s coverage from the opening ceremony tonight — with Andrew Cotter as company in the commentary box in the Maracana stadium.
Clare Balding and Mark Chapman front the 7pm until midnight shift each day, while Jason Mohammad has the graveyard shift through until 4am — although it’s not going to be short of action.
Ore Oduba welcomes viewers to BBC4 daily between 1-7pm.
BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker anchors the channel from 7pm until the end of the day’s action. Gabby Logan presents the athletics from the Olympic Stadium, with Clare Balding trackside for the cycling.
Helen Skelton leads the way at the Aquatics Centre. Matt Baker is at the gymnastics and John Inverdale takes care of the rowing.
THE PUNDITS
SIR STEVE REDGRAVE: Rowing champion and Britain’s third most decorated Olympian having bagged five gold medals from 1984 to 2000.
SIR CHRIS HOY: Cycling star and Britain’s most decorated Olympian with a total of seven Olympic medals including six gold and a silver.
MICHAEL JOHNSON: Legendary American sprinter — the only male to win 200 and 400 metres gold at the same Olympics (Atlanta 1996).
DENISE LEWIS: Field and track star won heptathlon gold at the 2000 Sydney Games.
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Coached England rugby team to World Cup glory in 2003 — the only Northern Hemisphere side to win the competition.
VICTORIA PENDLETON: One of Britain’s most successful female Olympians winning two golds and a silver as a track cyclist. Switched to horse racing and tried her hand as a jockey.
BETH TWEDDLE: Won bronze for her performance on the uneven bars at London 2012 and is a three-time world champion.
REBECCA ADLINGTON: Swimmer won two golds in the 400 and 800m freestyle in Beijing. She went on to win two bronzes in the same events four years later.
DARREN CAMPBELL: Sprinter bagged a 200m silver in 2000. Won gold as part of the 4x100m relay team in Athens 2004.
ANTHONY JOSHUA: Boxing star rose to fame by winning super- heavyweight gold four years ago. Now he is the first IBF world heavyweight champion.
DAILY SCHEDULE
BBC1/BBC2
6am-9.15am
Special edition of BBC Breakfast — filmed at the BBC Sport Hub.
9.15am-1pm
Replay of the best of the overnight action (BBC2).
1pm-7pm
Hazel Irvine hosts the bulk of the day’s action.
7pm-midnight
Clare Balding and Mark Chapman split hosting responsibilities up to midnight.
Midnight-4am
Welsh host Jason Mohammad sees viewers through the night until the end of the day’s action.
BBC4
1pm-6pm
Ore Oduba takes over BBC4 for the second channel of highlights.
6pm-1am
BBC Breakfast host and Match of the Day regular Dan Walker sees the day’s play through.
1am-4am
More live action from around the Games.