The BBC is effectively clearing BBC1 and BBC3 to cover every sport from every venue during the Olympic Games.
The broadcaster is committed to bringing ‘every single’ minute of the event from July 37 to August 12 to UK audiences, including every mile of the torch relay from May 19.
BBC3, which broadcasts from 7pm to 7am, will be extended to run 24 hours a day, at a cost of £5million, the BBC Trust said.
For those already weary of the way sport fills TV schedules in the summer, next year could prove the ultimate test.
BBC1 will be the main channel for coverage, with favourite programmes such as EastEnders, Holby City and Panorama moved or rescheduled.
The broadcaster will also launch a temporary digital radio station, BBC 5 Live Olympics Extra (Amazing how they find money to waste when they want to), in addition to BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra, over the course of the Games.
A spokesman said: ‘The BBC plans to extend the hours of BBC3 and dedicate the channel predominantly to Olympic coverage. It will revert to its regular schedule at 11pm.’
The only solace for those seeking an alternative will be BBC2 between 6pm and 10pm and BBC4 from 7pm to 7am.
Freeview or digital viewers will not be able to watch BBC Parliament(The guy who watches that will be upset), as the frequency will be used by BBC3.
Director of London 2012 coverage Roger Mosey said: ‘We want to do justice to the biggest sporting event on the planet. But we want to make sure there are sanctuaries for people who don’t want to go Olympic-crazy.’
BBC online will offer about 1,000 hours of live video coverage to mop up the bits TV does miss.
Mr Mosey added: ‘No bit of the BBC will be untouched by the Olympics
