Channel 4 Paralympics coverage reaches 17 million in first week as youth viewing hits new high

5 September 2024

 

• Record numbers at half-way point of Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
• Coverage reaches more than 17 million people across linear and streaming - a quarter of TV population
• Biggest ever share of 16–34-year-olds for a Paralympics - topping London 2012 Paralympic Games
• Channel 4’s support for ParalympicsGB’s Every Body Moves site, dedicated to helping disabled people get more active, has attracted 50,000+ new users

With the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games now into its second week, new data shows Channel 4’s coverage has reached 17.4million viewers across linear and streaming – more than one quarter of the total TV population – up +4% on the same stage of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Based on data covering the Opening Ceremony and the first six days of competitive action, the channel has attained a total audience share of 9.1%; up 25% on the same number of days of Tokyo 2020, up 5% on Rio 2016, and up 79% vs the channel’s average share over the past year. There has already been a total of 4.3billion viewer minutes across linear and streaming, up from 2.9billion by the same stage of Tokyo 2020.

The record-breaking performances from ParalympicsGB athletes have proved a big hit with young viewers, with Channel 4 recording its biggest-ever share of young viewers for a Paralympic Games at this stage. Channel 4’s linear share - 12.8% - of the 16-to-34 audience, even surpassed its coverage of London 2012 and is up more than +56% versus Tokyo 2020. The first night of coverage around the Opening Ceremony attained a 16-34 share of 22.5%.

Channel 4’s streaming views is double that achieved across the same period of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games - up 97%.

The Last Leg has returned to its roots as it takes pride of place at the heart of Channel 4’s primetime schedule throughout the Games, with over 0.9m viewers to post-coverage episode to date and up +21% on the Tokyo 2020 equivalent.

Hit moments with viewers over the opening six days of the Games include Tully Kearney landing gold in the Women’s 200m Freestyle S5 final (1.6million viewers and a 30.7% share of the 16-34 TV viewing audience), David Weir’s ultimately unsuccessful bid for a third Paralympics gold medal in the men’s T54 1500m (1.5million viewers) and Great Britain’s victory over France in the preliminary stage of the Men’s wheelchair basketball (1.5million viewers).

More than 1.7million live streams have been achieved on Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel, where Channel 4 is offering up to 18 concurrent streams and more than 1300 hours of coverage from all the events being made available for live coverage by the Paralympic Games’ organisers.

On social, Channel 4 Sport’s TikTok account has amassed 16.7million views with top performing content including Maisie Summers-Newton’s emotional medal moment (2.5million views) and Jonnie Peacock calling out for inclusion of disability sports (1.4million views). Meanwhile Channel 4 Sport’s Instagram has generated 2.5millon reach, through content such as Channel 4 presenter Rose Ayling-Ellis’s explanation of how she presents live sport as a deaf person (560,000 views).

Channel 4 has also been supporting the ParalympicsGB-run Every Body Moves site – a place where disabled people across the UK can search for activities near them. On the day prior to the Opening Ceremony 641 visited the site. Since Channel 4’s promotion of the site throughout the Paris Paralympics more than 50,000 people have visited the site for the first time.

Pete Andrews, Channel 4’s Head of Sport, said: “We are so excited that the Paralympics have captured the public’s imagination and in particular how the amazing performances of ParalympicsGB have struck a chord with younger viewers. We have tried to make these games as accessible as possible for everyone and showcase the fun and drama of this brilliant event. Hosting the streams on YouTube has been a big hit with the viewers and it’s fantastic to see audiences flock to our coverage across linear, streaming and social. Bring on the next few days.”                

Notes to editors:

• data based on audiences over the first six days of competitive action, plus the Opening Ceremony.

About Channel 4

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