Channel 4 to show 2012 paralympics
Post categories: Media
| 15:51 UK time, Friday, 8 January 2010
Public service broadcaster Channel 4 has for the rights to televise the London 2012 paralympics.
Until now, viewers have been used to seeing coverage of disability sport only on the licence fee funded Ö÷²¥´óÐã, so to see them move to a commercial broadcaster is very interesting.
Disability programmes and sport haven't previously been seen as great money-spinners by businesses - the people who, crucially, may or may not buy advertising in the breaks. But Channel 4 and the Ö÷²¥´óÐã both appear to have been raising their game around disability in recent years with disabled people regularly included on Big Brother and seemingly more and more specials from auntie such as Britain's Missing Top Model and the soon to be broadcast Dancing on Wheels.
Campaigners often go blue in the face reminding their audiences, "Disabled people have an annual spend of 80 billion pounds and so should be taken seriously". Could Channel 4's purchase of the games be an acknowledgment of disabled people, their friends and family, as a sizeable economic force? Or are they betting that the halo of love around the London-based olympic and paralympic games will pay worthwhile dividends and get viewers glued to their sets.
Anyone hooked on the nightly coverage from the Beijing games in 2008 like I was, is going to relish seeing so much live sport from disabled competetors. Somehow, disability sport has more to offer than mainstream sport with its back stories and a higher than average element of jeopardy from mixed ability male and female athletes. It's like WWE on acid and with no play acting.
Channel 4 has pledged that it will give itself over to the games after the summer olympics is over. It also plans to broadcast documentaries in 2011 and 2012, with other disability sport events, to help build towards the games. Being as some of the rules and categories are quite complex, lots of explanation is likely to be necessary up front. e.g. if a swimmer appears to beat the rest of their field and reach the end of the pool first, they're not necessarily the winner. Disability is so confusing.
• The Ö÷²¥´óÐã has an excellent an regularly updated disability sports site that we urge you to add to your favourites right now:
Comment number 1.
At 9th Jan 2010, gday wrote:All this user's posts have been removed.Why?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 9th Jan 2010, wheelalong wrote:Thankyou Channel 4; shame the Ö÷²¥´óÐã didn't get it though - seriously doubt I'll watch this time round as I have advert phobia.
One of the best diability programmes I watched that was put out by C4 was 'Celebrity Wheelchair Challenge' some years ago that didn't include any disabled people in it funnily enough - but Boy, it blew out the myth of accessible transport!
Olympian effort - or the equivilant to it is being enacted out everyday by disabled people just in attempting to live. Paralympics is merely giving the abledbodies a chance to sit & stare and say Ahhh!
Rather the money wasted on this went to improve everyday real lives for those who can't perform or train for the amusement of others.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 10th Jan 2010, M M wrote:I'm wondering now that the deaf athelete has been told to join the paralympics or get no support funding, just what level of their involvement is now happening ? how mant deaf from the 'Deaflympics' are now competing alongside yours ? Deaf are told they MUST join the paralympics. Most do not want to, they were told "Paralympians are winners and deaf aren't." surely a clear case of discrimination in sports when they are refused funding by the sports bodies, and supported training ?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 13th Apr 2010, Shyni wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 26th May 2010, KEdwards wrote:If you would like to be involved in the C4 Paralympics - they are currently looking for a Talent Scout/Blogger. Check out their site www.channel4.com/jobs for more information before June 1st.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 8th Jun 2010, lvyani wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 10th Dec 2010, U14717142 wrote:All this user's posts have been removed.Why?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)