July news
Big screen brings sport, news and entertainment to city
Coming to a big screen near you - all the sporting and cultural action from the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games plus news, key events and local information will soon be on stream from Guildhall Square now that planning permission has been granted for the 'Live Site'.
The screen will be up and running from 8 August - in time to broadcast all the highlights from this years' Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
In the run up to the 2012 Games, the screen will be used to showcase key sporting, entertainment and high profile cultural and local events.
The high-tech LED screen measures 26sq metres and work will now begin on installing it in the Guildhall Square in Portsmouth city centre.
The screen will be positioned so residents and visitors can sit on the steps in front of the Guildhall and civic offices and enjoy all the excitement, including the opening ceremony from Beijing, all the action from the 2008 Games and the closing ceremony when the Olympic Flag is passed from Beijing to London.
Drusilla Moody, Tourism and Visitor Services Manager, said: "Being chosen to host one of only eight giant screens in the UK is a fantastic opportunity for Portsmouth.
"As well as making sure residents and visitors to the city feel right at the heart of all the Olympic excitement this summer, as we prepare for the build up to 2012 we will also be able to use the screen for community events and festivals in the city.
"Other cities that have big screens have shown that people walking through the city centre find them really useful as they can access news and local information right there in front of them as well as high quality BBC content that is relevant to their daily lives. We will also be part of the national celebrations, enhancing the profile of the city to a world wide audience."
Portsmouth was one of eight cities chosen to host a giant screen by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), who have been working closely with Portsmouth City Council and the BBC.
Worth a total of £400,000, the package is being funded by LOCOG and will be given to Portsmouth to use well beyond the 2012 games. The handover will take place on 24 August, when the Beijing Games handover to London 2012. Daktronics is the company being used to install the equipment.
The BBC will be responsible for scheduling what is shown on the screen and will work with the city council to provide local community opportunities. The screen is expected to broadcast for up to 17 hours each day.
Date : 03 July 2008