Global iPlayer gets sporty

The BBC’s Global iPlayer VoD service has secured the rights to a sporting event for the very first time.

Subscribers across Europe will be able to watch full highlights of the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, a yearly tradition between the rowing teams of two prestigious English Universities.

The race was held for 158th time in its history on the River Thames in London last Saturday but descended into farce after a protestor swam into the path of the two boats, forcing a restart. The Oxford team’s oars then snapped in a collision and one of its rowers subsequently passed out after Cambridge won.

The race will be available on the Global iPlayer in Australia, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg.

Jana Bennett, president of worldwide networks and Global BBC iPlayer, said, “It’s always been our ambition to expand the selection of programme genres on the pilot of the Global BBC iPlayer, and sport is the latest addition. We’re keen to make Global iPlayer the home to some of the very best British sporting moments.”

International distribution rights for The Boat Race are held by BBC Worldwide.