So, let’s compile all the various methods to watch the London 2012 Olympics online.
Since the experience is very fragmented, we will sort the options by country.
Please comment below and let us know where and how you will watch the Olympics online.
My Preferred Method: use a VPN, as described here (works from everywhere).
Update: Official Recordings on YouTube
Free Unrestricted Streams: Not the best quality, but free.
- vipbox.tv
- hahasports.com
- livetv.ru/en/
- eurovisionsports.tv/london2012/ (works if you are in EBU, also has recordings, search for weightlifting)
USA (and U.S. Territories.):
NBC partnered up with YouTube. That means ALL events will be streamed live.
Restrictions: Needs a cable, satellite or telco TV subscription that includes MSNBC and CNBC.
Where: NBCOlympics.com
Apps: They also provide 2 apps for all major platforms.
Great Britain:
- BBC Web Live Streams
- BBC Apps provide 24 live streams. Links: Andoid, iOS and Blackberry Apps
Germany: ARD and ZDF will provide up to six additional parallel live streams of the competitions in London.
Australia: NineMSN and Foxtel are official Partners.
Austria: ORF has you covered. TVthek.ORF.at and sport.ORF.at
Asia & Africa: YouTube to stream Olympics live in Asia and Africa
Canada: ctvolympics.ca should be streaming some events.
Other Options:
- Get yourself a VPN to by pass these silly country restrictions. Costs: range from $9.99 to $20 US, HideMyAss VPN (buy from here and hidemyass gives me money to keep the site running), BlackVPN, StrongVPN
- use a service like tunlr.net if you are comfortable changing DNS settings (DNS Changer makes it easier).
- Go to http://www.expatshield.com/ and install the program. This assigns your computer an IP address from the UK.
- Lifehacker likes UnblockUS DNS changer ($5 US).
- Wait for torrents to appear.
List of official Broadcasters. Most of these have stream.
Thanks Gregor!
Best way to watch the events after they’ve happened? Aside from waiting for an upload from franjete?
Hoping that many people upload the events, and that the IOC doesn’t take them down as usual…
Any reccomendations for those in Switzerland?
How about Canada?
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/ should be streaming a lot of the events. They did a pretty damn good job with 2010 Vancouver. CBC handled 2008 Beijing online and had most weightlifting events, although some without commentary, you could at least watch the competition.
cool, much thanks
Added. Thanks
Hell yeah! This is exactly what I’ve been looking fo- “Australia: ?”. Oh well, such is life in the zone.
So I am in the U.S. And yes, NBC is providing coverage of the Olympics online, but there’s a catch. Per their website, “You will need to verify that you subscribe to a cable, satellite or telco video tier that includes CNBC and MSNBC.” But what if we are not subscribed to these channels/cable etc.? Found a solution at http://www.watchtheolympicsonline.org – check it out.
By the way, I think this solution will work for those outside the U.S. as well..
Please don’t promote your spammy sites here.
Who are you kidding here? You think somebody is going to pay $49.95 for your service?
Let’s get something clear- will there be an internet broadcast from BBC (limited for the UK) or is it just via apps? Also, link to international Android BBC doesn’t work.
As I understand it there will be internet streams. And they pulled the international apps.
Anybody know of a stream to watch the Women’s 48 in Germany (Besides the ripped off Eurosport ones)? ARD and ZDF don’t seem to be showing it and of course I don’t have Eurosport (Brilliant, don’t even ask).
Cheers.
ZDF will have the 48kg streaming.
ARD and ZDF will alternate the brodcasts among them.
There are some cool options on the smart TV if you have one.
http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/9_smart_tv_apps_to_check_out_for_the_2012_olympic_games
Thanks Jerry.
install expat shield and watch the BBC coverage.