The most comprehensive coverage of an event ever — why Seven is going big with Rio

NINE hundred hours of sports coverage across three channels, plus every session live on a dedicated app — the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will truly be unmissable.

Seven’s extensive broadcast of the Rio Olympics will be the most comprehensive events coverage ever, the network promises. Picture: Alex Coppel

NINE hundred hours of sports coverage across three free-to-air channels, plus every single session live on a dedicated app — the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will truly be unmissable.

Channel Seven has dedicated a stack of technology and some 300 staff to bring absolutely all of the action from Brazil to keen viewers at home, with more choice than ever before.

Saul Shtein, the network’s head of sport, says Rio will go down as the most comprehensive coverage of a major event in Australian small screen history.

“For previous Games, the coverage has been on one channel and that’s basically it, but for this we’re on three channels concurrently with another 36 streams on our app,” Shtein says.

“And you can stream those three live channels too, so you’ll be able to catch it on your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone.” It all adds up to 5000 hours of coverage in total.

Advances in broadcast technology coupled with dramatic shifts in viewing habits over recent years mean Seven had to “step up” its coverage plan, he says.

But for whichever network acquires the rights to an Olympics, Shtein admits there’s always an element of competition to make it the best broadcast ever.

“Oh absolutely. We’re very lucky in Australia because our sports coverage is as good as — if not better — than anywhere else in the world. The competition (among networks) means we’re constantly trying to raise the bar.”

The plan for Rio — multiple events at different locations beamed halfway across the world to dozens of channels, plus a variety of specialty shows including Rio Today hosted by Hamish McLachlan — is unprecedented, he says.

And there’s a lot at stake.

“We had a small taste of what it takes with this year’s Australian Open. We ran that across two channels and had live coverage of 16 courts on our app, so that was a bit of stepping stone to Rio. But the Games is a whole new level.”

With so much choice, Shtein concedes there’s a risk of viewers being overwhelmed. But Seven has a plan for that too.

“We’ll be informing viewers along the way about what’s on where, what’s coming up, what their options are — that’s an important element.”

As well as the world’s best athletes and sportspeople, the backdrop of Rio de Janeiro offers a postcard setting for some of the events, he says.

Take the beach volleyball competitions, which will be hosted on Copacabana beach.

“That’s going to be unbelievable. They’ll play until about one o’clock in the morning — you can imagine what the atmosphere will be like down there.”

Seven’s Olympics coverage begins Saturday August 6. Visit seven.com.au/olympics for full details.