London Paralympics Set to be Most Watched Games Ever

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“As the world’s second biggest multi-sport event, all eyes will be focussed on the Paralympic Games in London in 2012.”

Combining with the previous announcements of an unprecedented level of exposure in the UK through Channel 4 and China’s largest national broadcasting network CCTV, the total worldwide broadcast deals for the London 2012 Paralympic Games will see a record £10 million in revenue generated from the sale of broadcast rights to the Paralympics – greater than for any previous Games.

These deals will provide the Paralympic Games and Paralympic sport with the strongest Games broadcast coverage ever received, ensuring the widest possible audience can enjoy the Games.

“As the world’s second biggest multi-sport event, all eyes will be focussed on the Paralympic Games in London in 2012,” said Sebastian Coe, LOCOG Chair.

“Beyond how the commercial value of this package has raised the bar financially for the Paralympic movement, the fantastic broadcast coverage we have agreed will help us take advantage of this opportunity to inspire disabled people of all ages to take up sport and be a catalyst for continued change in public attitudes towards disability.”

Host Broadcaster services are being provided by OBS, giving viewers around the world unbiased live action in high definition, and minimum broadcast commitments have been matched or exceeded in all cases with hundreds of hours of Paralympic sport to be broadcast right across the world.

"On the back of record breaking ticket sales, it is fantastic news that these deals will ensure that more people see the Paralympic Games then ever before,” said Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

“This is testament to the performances of the athletes who will come to London and put on something pretty special.

"The Paralympics is sport like never before and whether you watch them as a spectator or as a TV viewer you cannot help to be impressed and excited at the Paralympic spirit and the record breaking performances of the athletes,” Sir Philip added.

The Rights Holding Broadcasters announced have a strong record in previous coverage of the Paralympic Games.00

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world, serving 85 national media organizations in 56 countries across Europe and beyond. Member broadcasters reach an audience of 650 million weekly.

NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), is Japan’s only public broadcaster and will showcase the Paralympics to the national population of over 125 million.

Globo TV reaches 190 million people in Brazil. Sportv is Globo’s cable sports channel and reaches 11 million subscribers (40 million people).

ABC, Australia’s primary public broadcaster, won the International Paralympic Committee’s Broadcast Media Award for its coverage of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games having produced more than 120 hours of coverage .

Sky Italia, the Italian digital subscription channel, will bring the Paralympics to its 5 million subscribers.

KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) is the public service broadcaster of Korea; and Thailand Pool TV represents a pool of well established broadcasters in Thailand.

Further Rights Holding Broadcasters will also be announced in the coming months to deliver even greater global coverage.