UK Athletics (UKA) has struck a deal with the BBC, as the sport looks to be broadcast to ‘the widest possible audience’.
As part of the broadcasting partnership, a plethora of athletics events will be shown on the platform in 2023.
Viewers will be able to watch all UKA events via a BBC Sports’ combination of network TV and streaming channels from the BBC iPlayer to the BBC Sport website and the red button device on TV.
The World Indoor Tour Final in Birmingham will be available on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport and the red button, whilst the London Diamond League will be shown on BBC TV, as well as the aforementioned sites.
UKA CEO, Jack Buckner, commented on the BBC agreement: “We are delighted to once again be partnering with the BBC for our 2023 Major events series.
“Our sport is given an excellent platform by BBC Sport, delivering athletics to the widest possible audience. We’re looking forward to working with the team at the BBC to bring entertaining and world-class athletics performances into people’s homes throughout the year.
“The unparalleled audience reach of the BBC’s TV and digital platforms provides maximum exposure for our athletes and allows more fans to follow their journeys throughout this stellar year for athletics events.”
The list of events to be shown on BBC programming includes the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham (18-19 February), World Indoor Tour Final in Birmingham (25 February), UK Athletics Championships (8-9 July), and the London Diamond League (23 July).
UKA reveals that last year’s coverage of its major events drove “significant numbers” to TV and streaming services, with a peak audience of 1.6m on BBC One for the 2022 Diamond League event in Birmingham.
Insider Sport Insight: Athletics has been a mainstay on the BBC, being a dedicated broadcaster of the Olympic games, and the extension of the deal will be a key boost to the sport as it looks to enhance audience engagement and grow its fan base to a new audience.
Furthermore, it will also benefit from the wide range of platforms possessed by the BBC as it looks to boost narratives around its sporting competitions and enhance engagement within the varying sports.
