Channel 4 beats BBC to Paralympic rights 11/01/2010 |
|
| |
| |
Channel 4 has won the broadcast rights to the 2012 Paralympic Games.
It beat the BBC to the rights even though the public service broadcaster will show the 2012 London Olympics and has covered previous Paralympics.
Sky, rather than Channel 4, was believed to be the BBC’s biggest rival when the broadcast rights were put out to tender but did not submit a bid to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Locog).
Lord Burns, the Channel 4 chairman designate, said: “For Channel 4, the London Paralympic Games will be the main event, not a sideshow to the Olympics. The Games will define our year in 2012 and take over Channel 4 for their duration.
“The Paralympics will be one of the most significant sporting events to be staged in Britain for many years and we’re confident the more comprehensive and more cross-platform coverage we are offering can connect the Games with the widest possible cross-section of British viewers.”
Channel 4 will work with IMG Media and Sunset+Vine on its Paralympics coverage. The event starts shortly after the Olympics finish.
London 2012 chairman Lord Coe added: “The eyes of the world will be focused on the Paralympic Games – the world’s second biggest multi-sport event – in London in 2012.
“We are absolutely delighted to appoint Channel 4 as our broadcast partner in the UK. Channel 4 shares our vision for the Paralympic Games, has a very strong appeal to young people, and will play a hugely important role in increasing public engagement and involvement in Paralympic sport in this country.
“We are confident that the quality and depth of the broadcast coverage provided by Channel 4 not just for the 12 days of sport in 2012, but in the two-and-a-half years leading up to the Games, will inspire disabled people of all ages to take up sport and be a catalyst for continued change in public attitudes towards disability. The commercial value of this deal has raised the bar financially for the Paralympic movement.”
Channel 4 will show more than 150 hours of the Paralympics – believed to be more than the BBC’s planned coverage – with more than 130 hours on its main channel. The coverage will be led by a peak-time show, and extensive coverage will also be provided on mobile and online.
The decision is a blow to the BBC but in a statement the corporation welcomed the fact that the event would still be shown on a terrestrial channel.
“We are disappointed to have not been awarded the rights to the 2012 Paralympic Games,” it said.
“We’re proud of our traditions and record in covering disability sport. However, we are pleased that the Games will be available to free-to-air audiences, and we congratulate Channel 4 on securing the rights.
“We are sure the 2012 Paralympics will be a great success.”
Locog will begin the tender process for the international broadcast rights to the Paralympic Games later this year.
|
| Back |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
