Commercial broadcaster Channel 4 has been awarded the UK television rights to the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The agreement marks the first time the International Paralympic Committee has signed a two-Games deal with a broadcaster. The partnership with Channel 4 includes multi-platform broadcast rights within the UK and will see the broadcaster build on its coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics.
As part of the agreement, Channel 4 will screen over 45 hours of coverage from Sochi 2014 – the most ever by a UK broadcaster. In the lead-up to Rio 2016, the broadcaster will also show coverage of major international para-sport events. This will include July’s IPC Athletics World Championships from Lyon, France and August’s IPC Swimming World Championships which will take place in Montreal, Canada.
For Rio 2016, Channel 4 has committed to screening a minimum of 200 broadcast hours including live coverage and highlights. Channel 4 will also build on the three live streams of coverage it offered for London 2012 on digital platforms and, in total, will broadcast over 500 hours of coverage from Rio.
David Abraham, Channel 4’s chief executive, said: “The London 2012 Paralympic Games was a landmark moment in the history of broadcasting Paralympic sport. Not only did Channel 4’s coverage reach record audiences but, more importantly, it had a meaningful and positive impact on UK attitudes to disability and disability sport in general. I’m delighted that we have the opportunity to build on this achievement over the next four years and to work alongside the IPC to deliver both the Winter Games from Sochi in 2014 and the Summer Games from Rio in 2016.”