Channel 4 celebrate Paralympic ratings

Channel 4’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games reached 20 million viewers across linear and streaming the broadcaster has announced…

The figures suggest that one third (33%) of the total TV population turned to Channel 4 to watch the sporting event and helped the network to its biggest audience share in 12 years.

Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4:

“I am incredibly proud of Channel 4’s role as broadcaster of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Our accessible coverage – with more hours broadcast than ever before presented by a ground-breaking presenting line-up – has been a joy to watch. The sport has been incredible, the feedback from the athletes on what it means for them has been inspiring and the volume of sign-ups to Every Body Moves represents a positive step forward.”

Based on data covering the Opening Ceremony and the eleven days of competitive action, the channel secured a total audience share of 8.8%; up 23% on the Tokyo 2020 Games and up 74% against the channel’s average share over the past year. Across the week to Sunday September 8, it secured its biggest share of viewing since the conclusion of the London Paralympic Games in September 2012.

Team GB and Paralympics GB athletes Emily Campbell and Thomas Young have been spotted using Aldi’s Broughton Astley store in Leicester as an unusual training ground for their 2024 Olympics preparations. Emily is pictured lifting shopping baskets filled with Aldi products, while Thomas is seen trying to reach top speed on the checkout belt.

Viewers watched a total of 7.3 billion viewer minutes across linear and streaming, up from 4.9 billion for Tokyo 2020. Meanwhile, Channel 4’s streaming views are up 85% on that achieved across the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

On social, Paralympics content has so far generated 41 million views across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. More than 2.4 million livestreams and 2.1 million non-live streams were recorded on Channel 4’s YouTube streaming platform.

Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4:

“Our innovative line-up of presenters, pundits and reporters entertained, educated and celebrated great live sport, while we leave a legacy in Cardiff in the first fully accessible gallery and production hub. Today’s announcement of record viewing figures underlines continued progress on our strategy to reach both new digital audiences while serving our existing linear viewers.”