This page offers a rough guide to the various television stations available in the
UK and via european satellite television which broadcast gymnastics related events.
It is written with a bias towards the English language and digital satellite channels
that are Free To Air (FTA) or otherwise easily available using run of the mill digital satellite equipment in the UK.
You should not consider this list as the definitive guide,
it mostly focuses on stations which frequently broadcast gymnastics.
The information is compiled from data recorded over the last few years, 2001 to 2004.
page contents:-
- UK Terrestrial and Digital Satellite Stations which broadcast gymnastics
- European Digital Satellite Stations which broadcast gymnastics
- Terminology used on this page
- Advice on buying a digital satellite system
| shortcut:- | BBC | ITV | Channel 4 | Channel 5 | Sky Sports | British Eurosport |
|
BBC 1 and 2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/ |
|
| where to view | Terrestrial in the UK. Available on cable in other countries. |
| TV guide information | http://www.bbc.co.uk/whatson/ - 6 days ahead and yesterday |
| how much gymnastics shown |
Not much, usually the major competitions like Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
The only local event covered is the Glasgow Grand Prix. Some guest appearances on various childrens tv shows such as Blue Peter. Watch out for Cirque du Soleil shows on the BBC digital channels. |
| general information | When they show gymnastics competitions then its great, unfortunately its just not enough. |
| positive points |
Decent commentators.
Did a pretty amazing multicast broadcast for 2002 Commonwealth Games if you had Sky Digital, hopefully they will repeat this for the upcoming Athens Olympics. |
| negative points | Will reschedule programmes at the last minute, this often leads to gymnastics not being shown. |
|
ITV http://www.itv.com/ |
|
| where to view | Terrestrial in the UK. |
| TV guide information | http://www.itv.com/listings/ - 7 days ahead and yesterday |
| how much gymnastics shown | None. |
| general information | - |
| positive points | - |
| negative points | - |
|
Channel 4 http://www.channel4.co.uk/ |
|
| where to view | Terrestrial in the UK. |
| TV guide information | http://www.channel4.co.uk/listings/C4/index.jsp - 6 days ahead and few back |
| how much gymnastics shown |
Occasional highlights of competitions shown on Transworld Sport programme, Saturday mornings about 8am.
Maybe the odd educational programme with gymnastics content. |
| general information | Watch Transworld Sport every weekend. |
| positive points | - |
| negative points | - |
|
Channel 5 http://www.five.tv/ |
|
| where to view | Terrestrial in the UK. |
| TV guide information | http://www.five.tv/tvguide/ - over 7 days ahead and few back |
| how much gymnastics shown | None, just the Laureus Sports Awards where you might catch the odd glimpse of a gymnast. |
| general information | - |
| positive points | - |
| negative points | - |
|
Sky Sports http://www.skysports.com/skysports/home |
|
| where to view | Sky Digital or Cable in the UK. |
| TV guide information | http://www.sky.com/skycom/tvguide - 6 days ahead or use their own EPG |
| how much gymnastics shown | Not much, they covered the Glasgow Grand Prix in 2000 and have showed promising coverage of local events in the SportNation programmes during 2002 but this has now stopped. |
| general information | Watch out for more SportNation programmes but I would not hold your breath waiting for them. |
| positive points | Most things are repeated. |
| negative points | Too many adverts. |
|
British Eurosport http://www.eurosport.co.uk/ |
|
| where to view | Sky Digital or Cable in the UK. |
| TV guide information | http://www.eurosport.co.uk/ - quite a few days ahead or use the Sky Digital EPG
Be aware when using the website tv schedule to select British Eurosport and also that the times are CET which may differ from UK time. |
| how much gymnastics shown | Worlds, Europeans, Olympics, most major events. |
| general information | This is the British version of Eurosport International meaning that the schedules do differ , which has resulted in gymnastics events being replaced with other sports. |
| positive points | English commentary and show good variety of gymnastics events. |
| negative points | Known to start earlier than scheduled. Too many adverts. |
| shortcut:- | Eurosport | RAISports | France 3 | Romania International | TVR2 |
|
Eurosport International http://www.eurosport.com/ |
|
| broadcast language | Various including English. |
| where to view | Mediaguard 2 & VideoGuard on Eutelsat Hotbird 4 @ 13.0°E, 12.731H 27500 3/4
plus various other satellites and also cable |
| TV guide information | http://www.eurosport.com/ - quite a few days ahead |
| how much gymnastics shown | Worlds, Europeans, Olympics, most major events. |
| general information | Multi lingual European Sports Channel. The English commentary is the same as on British Eurosport. |
| positive points | English commentary and show good variety of gymnastics events. |
| negative points | Known to start earlier than scheduled. Too many adverts. |
|
RAISports http://www.raisport.rai.it/ |
|
| broadcast language | Italian only. |
| where to view | FTA on Eutelsat Hotbird 2 @ 13.0°E, 11.804V 27500 2/3
You might be able to watch streaming video (352x264) from http://www.fastweb.it/streaming/raisport.asx |
| TV guide information | http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/tv.htm
or RAI teletext page 518, listings only for a day or two in advance at most. |
| how much gymnastics shown | Lots, covers major and local Italian competitions. |
| general information |
Pity more countries could not follow this example for sports programming.
If you wanted the best channel for sheer quantity of gymnastics broadcast then this is the one without a doubt. You could possibly receive this channel with a dish pointed at 13E and a Sky Digibox, however it is prone to crashing in my experience and you are much better off with a proper digital satellite receiver. |
| positive points | They show lots and lots of gymnastics.
Events are often repeated again during the night or early the next day, which is handy if you missed the original broadcast. |
| negative points |
TV listings are only available for the next day or two at most and
they do have a tendency to change the schedule at literally the last minute.
The commentary is annoying to say the least, they talk persistently over everything and it obliterates the soundtrack making rhythmic or floor routines not very enjoyable. |
|
France 3 http://www.france3.fr/ |
|
| broadcast language | French only. |
| where to view |
FTA on Atlantic Bird 3 @ 5.0°W, 12.732V 5.80 audio SECAM (analogue) TPScrypt & Viaccess 2 on Eutelsat Hotbird 6 @ 13.0°E, 10.834V 27500 3/4 Mediaguard on Astra 1G @ 19.2°E, 12.012V 27500 3/4 |
| TV guide information | http://guidetv.france3.fr/ - 6 days ahead |
| how much gymnastics shown | Highlights of major competitions and local French events. |
| general information |
My favourite channel to watch gymnastics on apart from the BBC.
They show my favourite events, Trophee Massilia for womens artistic gymnastics and Corbeil for rhythmic gymnastics. |
| positive points | Excellent camerawork, lots of interviews and often have retired gymnast providing commentary. |
| negative points |
Known to start broadcasts earlier than scheduled.
Only show gymnastics on weekends normally. |
|
Romania International http://www.tvr.ro/tv/tvri/ |
|
| broadcast language | Romanian only. |
| where to view | FTA on Eutelsat Hotbird 6 @ 13.0°E, 11.623V 27500 3/4
FTA on Eutelsat W2 @ 16.0°E, 12.715V 9913 3/4 |
| TV guide information | http://www.tvr.ro/tv/ - 6 days ahead |
| how much gymnastics shown | Highlights of major competitions and local events such as Romanian International and Romanian Nationals. |
| general information | Great for fans of Romanian gymnastics. |
| positive points | Often have retired gymnast providing commentary, interviews and you get to see upcoming gymnasts at Nationals. |
| negative points | Camerawork can be a bit ropey at times. |
|
TVR2 http://www.tvr.ro/tv/tvr2/ |
|
| broadcast language | Romanian only. |
| where to view | FTA & PowerVu on Eutelsat W2 @ 16.0°E, 12.715V 9913 3/4 |
| TV guide information | http://www.tvr.ro/tv/ - 6 days ahead |
| how much gymnastics shown | Highlights of major competitions and local events such as Romanian International and Romanian Nationals. |
| general information | Great for fans of Romanian gymnastics. |
| positive points | Often have retired gymnast providing commentary, interviews and you get to see upcoming gymnasts at Nationals. |
| negative points | Camerawork can be a bit ropey at times.
The channel switches between FTA and PowerVu encryption as and when they seem to feel like it. Some of the major events like the Worlds and Europeans were all encrypted broadcasts, whether this has something to do with the broadcast rights I do not know. PowerVu encryption is NOT hackable, you need a special type of satellite receiver. |
FTA - Free to Air, meaning the channel can be received without use of a CAM or smartcard.
EPG - Electronic Programme Guide.
CAM - Conditional Access Module, used to decrypt various encryption systems.
TPSCrypt, Viaccess, Mediaguard, VideoGuard and PowerVu are all encryption systems.
Pick up a copy of What Satellite and Digital TV magazine from your local newsagent and browse the adverts.
You should be able to find some good deals on equipment in there.
Thinking of going motorised? If you have the spare money then great otherwise you might be better off with
a large dish 80cm+ fitted with two LNBs and a switch which will allow you to receive two satellites
(normally Astra 19.2E and Hotbird 13E) using one dish.
You can then happily receive RAISports on 13E along with various FTA channels plus the German FTA channels on 19.2E.
Dish :- you can receive quite a few channels with 60cm dish but bigger is always better, 80cm are quite cheap now.
LNB :- Low Noise Block convertor, this is the bit that sits on the arm from the dish and collects the satellite signal.
They are normally sold with reference to the noise rating, get a 0.6dB or even better 0.3dB Universal type.
Receiver :- you want a proper digital satellite receiver with at least one or two CI slots,
if it has an embedded CAM then all the better.
CI slot :- Common Interface slot, these are used so you can plug in different CAMs enabling
you to decode different encryption systems with the correct card.
You want a receiver with at least one CI slot otherwise you will not be able to upgrade it and will be stuck with FTA channels only.
CAM :- Conditional Access Module, these are used to decode various encryption systems, most require a smart card.
Embedded CAM means that the receiver has the CAM built in.
For educational purposes you can purchase certain CAMs and smart cards which will enable you to decode
quite a few channels. However do not expect these to last long as channels do often change
encryption systems and/or the encryption keys used.
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created : 30/05/2004 updated : 20/07/2012 |