The Winter Olympics will be free to air, it was confirmed yesterday, ending weeks of speculation that residents without cable television would have to pay for a subscription to bring one of sport’s crown jewel events into their living rooms.

There had been fear that the Games, which begin officially tomorrow in Sochi, Russia, but will hold preliminary events today, would be paid-for only for local viewers.

But Bermuda CableVision and WOW said in a joint statement that the rights issue has been resolved and that customers can now look forward to “simultaneous coverage across multiple channels”.

That includes VSB, the local affiliate for NBC, which has the rights in the United States.

No one from VSB could be contacted yesterday to give official confirmation of its programming schedule for the duration of the Games, which run until February.

However, for those who are not fond of the American network’s particular focus on United States athletes — particularly the Canadian residents on the Island — there will still be the requirement to pay $22 for the Max Pack of SportsMax and SportsMax2 for “additional” programming.

Rights for the Caribbean region, which in this instance includes Bermuda, are held by IMC, the parent company of SportsMax, which is providing coverage of the Games.

In yesterday’s statement, CableVision announced that “in addition to the Olympics programming being broadcast on the networks traditionally known for providing the coverage, additional Olympics programming will be available to Bermuda CableVision customers who subscribe to the Max Pack”. Terry Roberson, the Bermuda CableVision chief executive, said: “CableVision and WOW have secured the rights to the Olympics programming.

This includes coverage on the broadcast channels that have historically aired the Olympics. We are very pleased that we can provide access to this content for our valued customers.”

Stanley Wright, president and chief executive of WOW, added: “WOW and Bermuda CableVision worked closely together to acquite the rights for the Olympics.

The original notification received only permitted the Games to be shown on our MaxPack package which contains SportsMax and SportsMax2.

“We got together with the Regulatory Authority to discuss the impact on the community and we decided to negotiate further on the rights. The result is CableVision and WOW acquired an expanded rights with the cost picked up jointly by our companies.

“Our rights were extended to allow the broadcasters to show the Olympics, who traditionally carry the Games.

“WOW will not black out any of its channels carrying the Olympics, offering our customers a range of coverage on a number of channels.”

More than 80 countries will have athletes in Sochi, including Bermuda, whose Tucker Murphy will line up in the 15-kilometre cross-country skiing race on February 14.

The Winter Games are expected to draw three billion television viewers worldwide to see sports as diverse as skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, figure skating, ice hockey, snowboarding and ski jumping.

Competition begins one day before the Opening Ceremony, owing to the increase in the number of events — much in the way that football kicks off the Summer Olympics away from the cauldron of the Olympic Stadium.

This marks the first time any network will air primetime Winter Olympic coverage before the official opening.

Today’s broadcast will include competition in men’s and women’s snowboard slopestyle, women’s freestyle moguls and team figure skating, which makes its Winter Olympic debut.