Twenty million watch Channel 4 Paralympics TV coverage, as channel secures biggest audience share in 12 years

11 September 2024

• Coverage reaches 20 million on linear and streaming – one third of the TV population – and delivers Channel 4’s biggest weekly share of TV audience since London 2012 Paralympic Games
• Digital platforms rack up 41 million views - with 4.5 million via Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel and 30 million on TikTok
• Wider impact delivered across the UK as Channel 4’s support for Every Body Moves attracts 83,000+ new users; Whisper’s world-leading accessible production facility in Cardiff leaves a lasting legacy for sports broadcasting; and Equal Play documentary spurs Government response to schools’ sports provision for disabled students

Channel 4’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games reached 20 million viewers across linear and streaming – one third (33%) of the total TV population – and helped the channel to its biggest audience share in 12 years.

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.

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.

Meanwhile on TikTok, where Channel 4 created bespoke content to inspire a new generation of fans, 30 million views were recorded as fans flocked to watch clips such as Dan Pembroke’s incredible throw. On Instagram, Channel 4’s Paralympics account secured 6.6 million views as fans tuned into watch Jonnie Peacock’s plea for more inclusion for para sports.

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. Channel 4’s linear TV share - 12% - of the 16-to-34 audience, surpassed its coverage of London 2012 and is up more than 44% versus Tokyo 2020 and 122% against the channel’s average share over the past year.

Popular moments from Channel 4’s coverage of the Games included:

• Jonnie Peacock landing sliver in the Men’s 4x100m relay (1.5 million peak).
• Tully Kearney’s gold in the Women’s 200m Freestyle S5 final (1.6 million peak)
• David Weir’s ultimately unsuccessful bid for a third Paralympics gold medal in the men’s T54 1500m (1.5 million peak).
• Channel 4’s live coverage for the Closing Ceremony attracted an average audience of 1.1m viewers – an increase of +200% on the average audience for the Closing Ceremony at Tokyo 2020.
• Coverage around the Opening Ceremony attained a 16-34 share of 22.5%.

Channel 4’s commitment to the Paralympics is also set to leave a series of lasting legacies for the UK’s 16 million disabled people*:

• Channel 4 has been supporting the ParalympicsGB-run Every Body Moves site – where people can search for disabilty sports near them. Throughout the Paralympics more than 83,000 people visited the site for the first time.
• Channel 4’s broadcast of the documentary Equal Play saw Paralympic Champion Hannah Cockroft highlight the shocking statistic that only one in four disabled students say they take part regularly in sport at school. As a result of the documentary, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport Lisa Nandy said the Government would take action to address the issue, while ParalympicsGB sent an open letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling for action on the issue.
• Channel 4 commissioned Whisper to produce its coverage via The Cymru Broadcast Centre in Cardiff. Purpose-built by Whisper, the centre is one of the world’s most accessible production facilities, enabling disabled talent to work behind the scenes. The centre will remain a last legacy for the city and Wales.

Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4, said: “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.

“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.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• data based on audiences over the eleven days of competitive action, plus the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
• TV population defined as those aged 4+ with a TV set utilising traditional reception
• 16 million disabled people in the UK (Source: Scope https://www.scope.org.uk/media/disability-facts-figures)

About Channel 4

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.

The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.

With a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.

In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market.

From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests £5m in training, development and learning opportunities annually and this will double to £10m by 2025.

Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 43 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.