BT Sport is about to go live.  Tomorrow (August 1) sees the launch of the UK’s newest TV sports channels and to kick it off they will be free for all to see on the first day for anyone with Freeview, TV from BT or Sky.

The action starts at 6pm with a first night special live show featuring most of the channels’ new presenters, experts, commentators and special guests.  These include Jake Humphrey, Clare Balding, Craig Doyle, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman, David James, Owen Hargreaves, Matt Dawson, Lynsey Hipgrave, Gary McAllister, Martin Bayfield, Anne Keothavong, Kim Little, Scott Redding, Neil Hodgson, Darrell Currie, Darren Fletcher, Sam Smith, Rosi Sexton, John Hathaway, Christian Howes, Des Kelly, Tom Watt, Caroline DeMoraes, Ian Darke, Ray Stubbs, Austin Healey, Ben Kay, Sarra Elgan, Eniola Aluko and Helen Skelton. 

The show will take place in BT Sport’s brand new studios, the biggest purpose-built sports studios in Europe. It will give viewers a taste of what is to come from BT Sport with live links right across the country and an insight into the new programmes coming their way.  The show will simulcast on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 2 until the moment the two channels become independent when viewers will see Jake Humphrey heading to the football studio to cover the Audi Cup on BT Sport 1 and Craig Doyle in the BT Sport rugby studio covering the JP Morgan Asset Management 7s on BT Sport 2.

The new BT Sport website, www.btsport.com also goes live on August 1 and will offer a range of free content, including sports news, features, a ‘Women in Sport’ section and full channel listings.

BT Broadband customers who have signed up to BT Sport will be able to stream the channels live to their PC or Mac and be able to watch content again. There will be ‘match centres’ for BT Sport’s live Barclay’s Premier League games with live text commentary and match statistics.  Customers will only need their BT ID and password to enjoy the action online. The website will also feature a #BTS section where people will be given the chance to interact with BT Sport in social media conversations and polls.

Also available on August 1 for BT Sport customers is the new BT Sport app for selected Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. This can be used over 3G, 4G and wi-fi connections. The app will offer live streams, highlights, news and features.  To get the app users should search for “BT Sport” in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, select it and then press the download button. Customers will need their BT ID and password.

John Petter, managing director, BT Retail Consumer, said: “It’s finally a reality that ‘Great sport happens here’. It’s just over a year since we secured our Barclays Premier League rights and only six months since we started to build our exciting new studio in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. We have some tremendously talented presenters and experts who are passionate about sport.

“The customers are the ones that matter and now they will be able to see the programmes for themselves. We‘re convinced they’re going to like what they see, and we’re absolutely committed to making BT Sport fun, innovative and a firm favourite with the fans.”BT Sport will show 38 exclusively live football matches from the Barclays English Premier League – including 18 of the “top picks” - from August 2013 for three seasons. The channels will also show live FA Cup with Budweiser action, UEFA Europa League matches, top tier live football from Germany, Italy, France and Scotland - with a further 10 Rangers matches - and action from the FA Women’s Super League. There will also be 30 exclusively live football Conference matches from the Skrill Premier including the play offs and the Promotion final at Wembley.    

The channels will also feature WTA women’s tennis, action from the UFC, and Moto GP from 2014.    

BT Sport is free with BT Broadband. TV customers require a set top box, either a YouView or Vision+ box for BT TV customers or a Sky box if customers take the channels via Sky’s digital satellite platform. Customers taking BT Sport via Sky’s digital satellite platform can access the channels with just one call to BT. TV customers who receive the channels via BT TV with BT Infinity or on the Sky digital satellite platform have the option of receiving the channels in HD for just £3 a month.     

Customers without BT Broadband can also receive the channels through the Sky Digital Satellite platform for £15 per month in high definition or £12 in standard definition. There is no requirement for customers to take a Sky TV subscription as BT Sport is retailed by BT.    

For more information or to order BT Sport, customers should call 0800 400 440 or visit: www.btsport.com.    

Follow @BTSport on Twitter for the latest news and for exclusive behind-the-scenes access and competitions, see BT Sport on Facebook

Enquiries about this news release should be made to;Paul McCarthy paul@aikenpr.comLyn Sheridan lyn@aikenpr.com02890663000

All news releases can be accessed at: http://www.bt.com/newscentre

Notes to editors• Subscribers will need to log into the BT Sport website with their BT ID to watch live streaming, video on demand content, the full range of video clips, the second-screen BT Sport’s live Premier League companion service and exclusive streaming of events.• Customers will need a BT ID to access the BT Sport app.• Customers who have not set up a BT ID or cannot remember their password will be able to visit the My BT section of bt.com for help.• On August 1 viewers will be able to see BT Sport on Freeview channel 57. Sky customers will be able to tune-in on Sky Guide Channel 413 even if they have not signed up to BT Sport from 6pm (August 1) to 12.45am (August 2).  BT customers can also watch via BT TV with Infinity, and, via the BT Sport app or online player.

About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2013, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,103m with reported profit before taxation of £2,315m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com