Channel 4 Agrees Broadcasting Deal for Next Two Paralympic Games

Channel 4 has announced that it will show coverage of the next two Paralympic Games, the forthcoming winter games in Sochi and the 2016 summer games in Rio.

The Channel, which scored big viewing figures for its coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics, has reportedly committed to showing over 45 hours of Winter Paralympics footage from Sochi, and a minimum of 200 hours from Rio.

Sir Philip Craven, chairman of the International Paralympic Committee, said he was ‘delighted’ that their relationship with Channel 4 was set to continue.

“With London 2012, Channel 4 created a blueprint for how a commercial broadcaster can raise the profile of Paralympic sport and its athletes to new levels,” Craven told The Guardian.

“They reached record audiences, in particular of young people, identified and developed some fantastic new presenting talent, and played a significant role in delivering seismic shifts in attitudes and perceptions towards people with an impairment in the UK.”

The British Paralympic Association congratulates Channel 4 on their appointment as UK host broadcaster for the 2014 and 2016 Paralympic Games.

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of the British Paralympic Association said: “Whilst this is clearly huge news for the Paralympic movement internationally, as it shows other broadcasters around the world that there is a real market for Paralympic sport, for us in the UK it demonstrates that 2012 really was a ground breaking year. The Paralympic movement in our country has never been stronger and we’ve always said we wanted 2012 to be a launch pad to developing it further. So to have our broadcaster in place so far ahead of the next two Paralympic Games and with a commitment to cover events in the build up to them is a fantastic place to be.

“Our thanks go to the IPC for working hard on securing this and our congratulations to Channel 4 for winning the rights against stiff competition. Their dedication and passion for the Paralympics is clear for all to see and we look forward to working with them over the next four years to carry on the job that we have started so successfully in London 2012.”