Seven launches HBBTV and mobile tennis coverage for 2015 Australian Open
The Seven Network and Yahoo!7 have launched their 2015 Australian Open tennis coverage, with free coverage across mobile, tablet and desktop devices as well as hybrid broadband TV (HbbTV).
Seven’s first flagged the HbbTV push last September to coincide with the launch of the Freeview Plus platform in Australia, highlighting how the technology would allow them to televise all 16 match courts of this year’s Australian Open.
“This is what we’ve been working towards,” said Seven CEO Tim Worner in a statement. “Finally, the viewer – no matter where they are – becomes the producer and director of their own live coverage. They get to call the shots.
“It’s perfect for these events where so much action occurs simultaneously. It’s a reflection of our commitment as a company to keep on challenging ourselves to innovate and build on what is already an outstanding broadcast.”
Seven’s tennis coverage is available on Channel 7, 7TWO and 7Mate can also be live-streamed online via the 7Sport app downloaded for iOS and Android mobile and tablet devices, at www.7sport.com.au or via the PLUS7 service on Hybrid-enabled TV sets.
Back in September Seven’s general manager of group technical services Trevor Bird told Mumbrella the tennis was ideally suited to the enhanced offering that HbbTV technology will provide TV networks.
“When you look at a tennis tournament you might start out with a lot of preliminary matches in outside courts and we might not be able to cover some of those courts live because we are looking at the action on centre court,” said Bird.
“But you might have a kid from Perth or Adelaide, who viewers want to watch, playing on court six and we would have the ability to stream that over the top to the television sets so that people who want to take an interest in that particular athlete can do that.
“We can provide more content than ever before and provide that more niche style content to people who want to see it without them leaving the TV set.”
Nic Christensen
That’s great Nic but do the commentators have to announce all the options as frequently as they have been. It’s getting very annoying.
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Not everyone wants to watch bloody tennis. Surely there is an obligation to show the programmes listed, or don’t list them. If tennis is going to over run at least indicate this in the listings so we can go and find something more interesting to do. You have it on both channels for christsake!!!!!!
Yours pissed off, for the third night in a row!!!!!!!!!
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Best coverage of a sport event that I’ve seen on FTA TV in Australia in a long time! Never said this before but well done so far Ch7.
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I am so happy the Aus Open is finally available to watch online. Have been waiting for this for years.
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How do i watch the tennis
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How do i actually watch the australian tennis
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