The month-long extravaganza of Olympics and Wimbledon may be over, but there are plenty of big events coming up. While the set up will differ from event to event, with some only shown on ITV, BBC or satellite broadcasters, the basic options will be similar each time.
You’ll need:
- A computer with a broadband internet connection.
Follow these tips for watching sporting events online
Step 1: The speed of your broadband connection will make a big difference to how easily you’ll be able to watch live matches. If your broadband speed is less than 3Mbps, the video player may stop and start regularly, which might mean you miss a crucial goal! You can test the speed of your broadband connection and speak to your internet provider about improving the speed if it is less than 3Mbps. You may find our guide to testing your internet speed useful. We also have a handy guide on troubleshooting a poor Internet connection.
Step 2: All event that are shown live on BBC TV will be shown live and often replayed on the BBC's website. All major sports programmes will also be available to watch again for seven days after transmission on the BBC iPlayer.
Step 3: All the sporting events shown live on ITV should be shown live on the ITV Hub, and will also be available after the matches/games have finished.
Step 4: International broadcasters show events such as World Cup matches but usually require an upfront payment. ESPN 3 is the online streaming version of the sports network ESPN. It offers live coverage of many events, but does require registration and to pay a subscription for a day, month or year.
Jo Munday is an experienced writer of online tutorials.
Last updated 4 July 2022