Channel 4 awards Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics to Whisper Films

27 July 2018

Following an extensive tender process Channel 4 has awarded the production contract for its coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games to Whisper Films.

Whisper Films was awarded the contract after a rigorous and competitive tender process and after demonstrating innovative and ambitious creative proposals to build on the success of Channel 4’s 2012 and 2016 Paralympics coverage.

Whisper Films has established itself as one of the UK’s leading sports production companies, delivering Channel 4’s acclaimed Formula 1 programming as well as the BBC’s coverage of the NFL and the Women’s Six Nations. Whisper also won the contract to produce the BBC’s coverage of England women’s football matches and the women’s FA Cup to 2021.

Channel 4 holds the exclusive UK broadcast rights to The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and will broadcast live coverage and highlights throughout the Games. It follows the huge success of Channel 4’s coverage of the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games.

Channel 4’s Head of Sport Stephen Lyle said: “We had an exceptionally high calibre of proposals as part of the tender process for the 2020 Paralympics but Whisper Films consistently demonstrated an innovative and ambitious approach with their creative plans for our coverage.”

As with Rio 2016, a range of independent production companies will be involved in producing content that will sit alongside Whisper’s coverage.

The Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games start with the Opening Ceremony on 25 August 2020 and finish two weeks later with the Closing Ceremony on 6 September 2020.

The Paralympics and all related content is commissioned by Head of Entertainment and Television Events, Ed Havard and Head of Sport, Stephen Lyle. They will oversee coverage alongside Commissioning Editor, Joe Blake-Turner and Commissioning Executive for Events Antonia Howard Taylor.

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Note to Editors

In 2016, the indies involved in the Paralympics coverage were 2LE, Film Nova, Fulwell 73, Deadpan, Live Wire, Open Mike and Sunset and Vine.

In 2015 Channel 4 took a minority stake in Whisper Films as part of its Growth Fund portfolio.