Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage attracts over 18m viewers in Paris

The coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympics has significantly outperformed the Tokyo Games, attracting 18.5 million viewers, which represents 30.4% of the TV population. This increase in viewership is accompanied by a remarkable rise in streaming figures, which have more than doubled compared to the previous event. By the halfway point of the Games, viewership was already 4% higher than during Tokyo 2020, with audiences spending 4.3 billion minutes watching the events across various platforms. One of the standout moments was Team GB's Tully Kearney winning gold in the Women’s 200m Freestyle S5, which drew in 1.6 million viewers. The coverage has also been praised for its accessibility features, including British Sign Language (BSL) and live audio descriptions, making it more inclusive for disabled audiences. Clare Balding and Aying-Ellis have been instrumental in presenting live sports coverage, ensuring that these features are integrated into the broadcasts. The efforts to enhance accessibility have been recognized by advocates like Pickles, who emphasized the importance of representation for disabled individuals in the media. She noted that seeing relatable figures can inspire self-belief and a sense of community among those who may feel isolated due to their disabilities. The commitment to accessibility extends beyond the broadcasts, showcasing a model for how television can be more inclusive. Overall, the success of Channel 4's coverage reflects a growing recognition of the importance of representation and accessibility in sports broadcasting, paving the way for future events to follow suit and reach wider audiences.