BandSports, the pay-television channel operated by Brazilian media group Bandeirantes, is now being provided via the internet amid a broader opening up of broadcast services in the country due to Covid-19.
BandSports is already being offered to pay-television customers on a free-to-view basis and, on Friday, viewers were able to access the channel via their computers and mobile devices.
BandSports said the move was designed to support the recommendation of health authorities that the population remains at home to contain the spread of Covid-19, which as of yesterday (Sunday), had seen the number of confirmed cases rise from 1,128 to 1,546 in Brazil, with the death toll increasing from 18 to 25.
As with other sports channels, BandSports’ schedule has been altered after the suspension of most sporting events with content offered to aid the dissemination of information about the virus.
Channel director Denis Gavazzi said: “The idea is to be able to take information to the public and also protect the channel’s collaborators, since the newsroom will have its workforce reduced by 50 per cent of employees.
“This is the first measure adopted, and we will not fail to follow all the recommendations of the Health Ministry and state and municipal authorities.”
Brazilian media group Bandeirantes, which operates free-to-air Band along with the BandSports pay-television service, said at the end of last year that it was interested in renewing its rights to the IndyCar motorsport series. Bandeirantes also holds ATP Tour tennis and French Open broadcast rights during the current cycle from 2018 to 2020.