Sports Tonight Live claims Freeview OTT first

A new sports channel has become the first OTT-delivered channel on the UK’s Freeview platform.

Sports Tonight Live, fronted by former TalkSport Radio presenter Mike Parry, claims to be the first UK channel to be available on the Freeview HD platform with content delivered exclusively via broadband to set-top boxes. The channel is using VisionIPTV’s studio production and internet broadcast playout services.

The channel’s format encourages live debate from viewers who contact the show via Skype video-call or Twitter. Producers can also poll the audience live for instant reaction to sporting events.

Sports Tonight Live broadcasts between 21:00 and 23:00 on weekdays, and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. At other times, the latest programme is shown on a loop.