Whisper appointed Channel 4’s Paris 2024 Paralympic production partner
Whisper is to produce UK broadcaster Channel 4’s coverage of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Channel 4 said that Whisper demonstrated “innovative and creative plans to build upon Channel 4’s widely lauded coverage of the Paralympics” and was awarded the contract after an extensive and competitive tender process.
Channel 4 became the official UK Paralympic Broadcaster when it took over coverage of the Paralympics in 2012 with the London Games.
“We remain committed to ensuring we have strong disabled representation on screen and behind the camera, which goes beyond the Paralympics production period.”
Channel 4 head of sport Pete Andrews said: “Channel 4’s ground-breaking coverage of the Paralympics has received worldwide recognition and we’re committed to further pushing the boundaries in terms of how we deliver Paralympic sport to our audiences.”
The broadcaster’s rights to air the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games includes multi-platform broadcast rights within the UK. The broadcaster said it would build on its acclaimed coverage which has regularly broken UK viewing records for Paralympic sport.
Whisper has a longstanding relationship with Channel 4, having produced Channel 4’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympic coverage for British viewers.
For Tokyo, Whisper handled 300 hours of TV for the broadcaster’s linear Channel 4 and More4 channels, as well as a new microsite populated with some 1,000 hours of coverage over 16 live streams.
Whisper managing director Mark Cole said: “It’s really fantastic for the whole team to have the opportunity to produce the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
“Delivering the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics was truly a stand-out moment for us and, to have the chance to do it again, this time with less Covid restrictions and even more opportunity for creativity and ambition, is something very exciting.
“We always aim to appeal to a large, diverse audience and to entertain, while telling the athlete’s incredible stories and that of the Games. We remain committed to ensuring we have strong disabled representation on screen and behind the camera, which goes beyond the Paralympics production period.
“So many values of both The Paralympics and Channel 4 align with ours; it really is an honour to be delivering this again and a huge thank you to Channel 4 for their support.”
Read more Paralympic achievement: Whisper gears up for Channel 4’s epic Paralympics coverage
Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon added: “A decade ago, London 2012 was a pivotal moment when Channel 4 was able to share and celebrate the achievements of these elite athletes with audiences across the UK.
“The impact of our coverage has taken our audiences beyond the incredible achievements on track and field, and I am incredibly proud that Channel 4’s belief in and commitment to the Paralympics Games has helped to change hearts and minds of audiences.
“Not only have we helped to positively change public perceptions of disability, but as a broadcaster, create real opportunities for disabled people to forge their broadcast careers on and off screen.”