PRESS RELEASE
- Sony believes this is one of 2012's killer apps for home entertainment and is pleased to be the first Smart TV brand to offer it
- Consumers can enjoy live streams of BBC coverage of key sporting events including Formula One and Wimbledon followed by 24 simultaneous streams during the Olympics
- Easy-to-use service that offers programming over and above what's available currently on free to air services
Sony today announced the BBC Sport app, which will sit alongside BBC News and BBC iPlayer on the Sony Entertainment Network, will be launching on Sony BRAVIA and PlayStation®3 (PS3TM) devices in time for Wimbledon 2012, providing exciting new television content over and above that available on free-to-air television.
The application has been designed specifically for the ‘big-screen' to deliver an ultimate home entertainment experience. The principal purpose is to deliver live sporting events where there are simultaneous activities or multiple camera angles, making it an ideal fixture to get front row seats to watch Formula OneTM and major sporting events coming to London this summer, including Wimbledon and the Olympics.
With the BBC capturing highlights of the key sporting events over the summer, the app will provide UK consumers with an incredible mix of both live and on-demand sporting events from the UK and around the world, straight to their living rooms at the simple touch of a button. Throughout the London 2012 Olympics Games, the BBC Sport app will give audiences access to 2,500 hours of content and up to 24 simultaneous live events, all in HD.
Edd Uzzell, Sony category development manager for BRAVIA, believes the launch of BBC Sport app is one of the most exciting developments for the Sony Entertainment Network.
"Televised sport is one of the biggest rating wins for broadcasters. This truly is a killer app and will provide a substantial amount of additional sporting content that you can't get through the current broadcasting model. We strongly believe this will kick-start more widespread usage of the connected television offering, providing sport fans using the app with in-depth big-screen coverage of their favorite events. The app will also have extensive penetration in the UK thanks to its availability on PlayStation 3" says Uzzell.
"Launching this app to millions of PS3 owners in the UK will be a very welcome addition to PlayStation's universal entertainment credentials" added Alan Duncan, UK Marketing Director for Sony Computer Entertainment UK.
In addition to the current BBC red-button function consumers with the BBC Sport app will have access to more interactive content and extra coverage of future sporting events.
The app's user interface will be familiar to consumers who currently use the BBC Sport website, it will be simple to navigate using the standard remote control, Media Remote smartphone application or PlayStation 3 controller. It will launch on PS3, 2011 & 2012 Internet Enabled BRAVIAs' with more devices to follow.
Sony is a leading global innovator of audio, video, communications and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. Sony is renowned for its audio-visual products, such as the BRAVIATM LCD high-definition television, Cyber-shotTM digital camera, Handycam® camcorder, "α" (Alpha) digital SLR camera, and Walkman® MP3 player as well as its VAIOTM personal computers and high-definition (HD) professional broadcast equipment, highlighted by the XDCAM® HD. Offering a complete end-to-end HD value chain and with its electronics, music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is one of the world's leading digital entertainment brands, employing approximately 170,000 people worldwide.
Through its long-term football partnerships as an official sponsor of the UEFA Champions League until 2012, Official FIFA Partner until 2014 and global sponsor of the FIFA World CupTM in 2010 and 2014, Sony is inspiring a sense of excitement for the millions of football fans around the world.
For more information on Sony, please visit http://www.sony.co.uk and http://presscentre.sony.co.uk/.
