C4 reaches 8.9m with Paralympic Winter Games

Channel 4 reached 8.9 million viewers with its Paralympic Winter Games coverage, a 25% increase on the Beijing 2022.

The Games, which took place in Milano Cortina earlier this month, also hit 10.4 million views on social media channels across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, and had 121% growth in streaming, from 384,000 in 2022 to 849,000 in 2026. 

Channel 4 broadcast more than 60 hours of live sport across Channel 4, Channel 4 Streaming and the Channel 4 Sports YouTube channel. Accessibility was a priority for the coverage, which was produced by Whisper, and all content was subtitled, live broadcast coverage had live audio description from 10:30am each day, and the daily highlights programme featured live British Sign Language translation. Plus, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies were simulcast on 4seven and Channel 4 Streaming with BSL and an open descriptive commentary.

The production itself also aimed to be accessible, with 25% staff identifying as disabled and a higher proportion of disabled talent in senior off-screen roles than ever before.

Para Snowboard Cross, Para Biathlon and mixed team Wheelchair Curling delivered Channel 4’s highest peak viewing of the Games on Sunday 8 March, with a five-minute peak of 582,000 viewers and an 18.1% share of 16-34s at 12:45. 

In addition, Channel 4’s partnership with ParalympicsGB to promote the latter’s Every Body Moves campaign to encourage disabled people across the UK to take up a sport or physical activity saw a 180% increase in users of the Every Body Moves platform compared to the yearly average. 

Pete Andrews, Channel 4’s head of sport, said: “Milano Cortina was a spectacular Winter Paralympics; an unforgettable setting, standout debuts from ParalympicsGB athletes, Davy Zyw and Nina Sparks making history, and a fantastic silver for Neil Simpson and his guide Rob Poth. It’s brilliant to see our viewers embracing Paralympic sport on every platform. We’re proud to be the UK’s Paralympic broadcaster and, alongside Whisper, to produce accessible, up-close coverage of all the action and drama. And all delivered from the accessible TV facility at the Cymru Broadcast Centre in Cardiff.”