The penny has finally dropped at the BBC, one of the biggest television network stations in the world. This year they will be broadcasting the 2009 CDI-W London Kur to Music live on television as well as the internet.
In its second year of a four year deal to broadcast Olympia, The London International Horse Show, the BBC for the first time has extended its coverage to provide live broadcast of Dressage. The FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle to Music will be available live through the BBC’s red button and internet services on Wednesday evening, 16th December.
This major decision in support of Dressage was taken after the BBC recorded outstanding viewing figures of its coverage from the Dressage finals of the recent 2009 European Jumping & Dressage Championships at Windsor in August.
Olympia Show Director, Simon Brooks-Ward said: “It is certainly a sign of the times that the BBC has committed to support this discipline. Dressage is on a meteoric rise in terms of public interest and we’re delighted the BBC has decided to include it in its Olympia coverage.”
Michael Cole, Deputy Editor BBC Sport, said: “Olympia is a great entertainment spectacle and also a hugely important sporting event on the build up to the 2012 Olympics in London. With the popularity of Dressage increasing - highlighted at the recent European Championships - it was a natural decision for us to include Dressage within our Olympia package. We’re looking forward to giving viewers such extensive coverage of a fantastic show.”
As well as the Dressage on Wednesday, the BBC will broadcast the Accenture Christmas Puissance on Friday 18th December, also through its red button service. Highlights of the Accenture Christmas Puissance will then be shown on BBC2 on the afternoon of Saturday 19th December. On Sunday 20th, the FEI World Cup™ Show Jumping Qualifier will broadcast LIVE on BBC2. Then on the evening of Monday 21st, the entire evening performance will be shown on the Red Button Service, LIVE.
Exact details of how to access the coverage on the red button service will be available ahead of Olympia. Please check www.olympiahorseshow.com for more detail a week ahead of the show.
Photo copyrighted: Caroline Finch
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