Media rights sales for LA28 Paralympic Games begin

As the media rights sales process for the LA28 Paralympic Games gets underway, the LA28 Organising Committee is aiming to capitalise on the unique combination of growing global interest, world class sport, and the event’s track record for transforming society.

The LA28 Paralympic Games will deliver approximately 1,400 hours of live coverage over 14 days of competition, featuring all 23 sports, including Para climbing, which will make its Paralympic debut. A record 4,480 Para athletes from around 165 National Paralympic Committees are expected to compete.

The media rights available for the Paralympic Games cover all territories excluding the USA and include Free to Air and Pay television, streaming, digital platforms, and radio.

The LA28 Organising Committee aims to build on the success of Paris 2024 where a record 225 Media Rights Holders, web streamers, digital, social, and audio platforms covered the Paralympic Games. During Paris 2024, more than 10,050 hours of coverage was aired globally from the Games, while the number of live hours consumed by TV viewers grew by 83 per cent compared to Tokyo 2020 *1. A record cumulative audience of 349.8 million people also tuned in for the Opening Ceremony. The growing interest in the Paralympic Games saw the value of the media rights for Paris 2024 grow by nearly 30 per cent compared to prior Games editions.

Danny Koblin, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties Chief Operating Officer, said: “With the Paralympics returning to the USA for the first time in 32 years — and coming to Los Angeles for the very first time — we are confident the Games will be more ambitious and transformative than ever before, building on the outstanding successes of Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026. 

"Global interest in the Paralympics is skyrocketing, and that momentum is only growing. Building on the double-digit rights growth of Paris 2024, we are committed to ensuring LA28 fully realises the commercial value of the Paralympic media rights on the world stage." 

World class sport and transformational impact

For every Games, the media rights are transferred to the respective Organising Committee who then appoint the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the exclusive agent to sell and manage the media rights for the Games.

In recent years the driving force behind the growing global interest in the Paralympic Games is the quality of the sport and the event’s unique ability to drive societal inclusion.

Data from Paris 2024 highlights a rapid evolution in the level of sporting performance and competition. In Para athletics alone, 32 medal events were decided by a margin of less than 0.1 seconds or 10cm, while in several other sports gold medal winning performances from Beijing 2008 would not have been good enough to qualify for a final at Paris 2024, such are the improving standards. Since Beijing 2008, the number of National Paralympic Committees competing at the Paralympic Games has increased from 146 to 170, while the number of medal winning nations has grown from 76 to 85.

The continuous improvement in the quality of Para sport is driving worldwide interest. Global research *2 found awareness of the Paralympic Games stands at 80 per cent, with only the Olympic Games and Men’s FIFA World Cup enjoying greater awareness.

The elite performances of Paralympians are having a monumental impact on audiences, triggering positive attitudinal changes. Research found eight out of 10 (80 per cent) said the Paralympic Games made them feel more positive about the abilities of people with disabilities.

John Lisko, the IPC’s Managing Director for Global Media Rights said: “No other sport event on earth has such a seismic impact on society as the Paralympic Games; this is what makes the event so unique and so special. With LA28 serving up some of the most spectacular venues ever seen at a Paralympics, Paralympians ready to push the boundaries of possibility, and the prospect of more media rights holders than ever before, I think LA28 could have a transformational impact on how the global population views persons with disabilities.

“Whether it is traditional linear TV, streamers, digital platforms, or radio, we are determined to capitalise on the growing global interest of the Paralympic Games to ensure LA28 breaks all Paralympic broadcasting records.” 

The LA28 Paralympic Games will take place between 15-27 August 2028. 

Interested broadcasters and agencies should contact: IPC.LA28MRHsales@paralympic.org

*1 and *2:  Nielsen Sports Research – Paris 2024 Paralympic Games – Sample size of 15,000 people in 11 countries.