C4 awards Rio 2016 Paralympic production contract to Sunset+Vine

26 November 2014

Channel 4 has awarded the production contract for its live coverage of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games to Sunset+Vine, part of the Tinopolis Group, following an extensive tender process.

The award-winning sports production company will produce over 200 hours of live coverage and highlights across the Rio Paralympics, which take place in September 2016.

Sunset+Vine co-produced Channel 4’s BAFTA winning coverage of the 2012 Paralympics which reached record audiences and had significant impact on changing viewers’ attitudes and perceptions towards disability.

In 2012, Channel 4 launched the careers of 10 new disabled presenters and reporters following a ground-breaking nationwide search for on-screen talent – and the new partnership with Sunset+Vine will extend the investment in disabled talent, with further details being announced in January 2015.

Channel 4’s Head of Live Events, Ed Havard said: “The Rio Paralympics will be one of the defining events of 2016. We’re delighted to be working with Sunset+Vine to showcase the Games for our audiences and to build on the extraordinary success of the 2012 coverage.”

Jeff Foulser, Chairman, Sunset+Vine said: "We're delighted to be teaming up once again with C4 to bring the 2016 Paralympic Games to the UK audience. Our award-winning experience from London 2012 and the expertise we have developed from subsequent events has enabled us to demystify para-sport and present it in an exhilarating and entertaining way.

"Thanks to C4's ongoing commitment to Para-sport, there is now a genuine appetite to follow the GB team at the Rio Paralympics 2016 - and the exciting performances and inspirational stories behind their achievements. We look forward to playing our part in making Rio an even greater success."

Ends.

Notes to editors

About Sunset+Vine:

Sunset+Vine is a leading independent supplier of sports programming to broadcasters in the UK and overseas. It has won over 35 broadcast awards including nine Royal Television Society awards and six BAFTA’s most recently for “Best Sport and Live Event” in relation to its production of Channel 4’s ground-breaking coverage of The London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Sunset+Vine was appointed as primary production partner for BT Sport (launched August 2013) and now produces the channel’s live English Premier League Football and Aviva Premiership Rugby matches and all support programming. The company was Host Broadcaster of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and is currently host broadcaster for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015. In the Middle East, Sunset+Vine has been Host Broadcaster for the Dubai World Cup for 17 consecutive years.

A leader in Advertiser Funded Programming, the company devised the world’s most watched weekly sports’ show “Gillette World Sport” (shown in 180 countries at its peak) which has recently been re-commissioned. Mobil 1 - The Grid is also amongst its extensive portfolio. The company is part of The Tinopolis Group.