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The upcoming Paris Summer Paralympics are fast approaching following the finish of 2024’s iconic Paris Olympics. The games, which are taking place from August 28 to September 8, will bring together 4,400 athletes to compete for medals.
CivicScience data show that the Olympics had a large streaming presence, with many viewers tuning in on the popular streaming platform Peacock. Its sister event is not as well known to the general population, but could still bring in a significant amount of viewers. New CivicScience data show that 8% of U.S adults plan to follow the upcoming Paralympics ‘very’ closely, while 23% plan to follow them ‘somewhat’ closely.
This is comparable to the ratios of this summer’s Olympics, in which 14% said they followed them ‘very’ closely and 38% followed them ‘somewhat’ closely. This six-point difference between those who are closely following the two games displays a smaller niche for viewers to enjoy athletes competing.
More than half of those who followed the Summer Olympics also plan to follow the Paralympics, and 10% of those who did not follow the Olympics will follow the upcoming Games. Non-fans of the Olympics are not likely to be watching the Paralympics.
Join the Conversation: Do you plan to watch the upcoming 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris?
Where to Watch: NBC & CNBC Take Charge
The variety of ways to stream the Olympics and Paralympics provides many viewers with a chance to access the events. The choice between live TV or streaming depends on the preference of viewers. Of those who are tuning in for the Paralympics, what platform are they most likely to use?
NBC/CNBC and Peacock took the top two spots. Nearly one-third of U.S. adults will be using the former to watch the Games, the highest of any group. In contrast, E! and Telemundo will only have 10% of viewers combined using their platforms for viewing.
Answer our Polls: Has the coverage of the Paris Olympics increased your interest in watching the Paralympic events?
Sporting a Variety
The Paralympics have a broad range of events to showcase athletes’ capabilities. The Summer Games involve 22 sports, and the Winter Games hold six. Much like this summer’s Olympics, the sports showcase a variety of skills, ranging from para archery to wheelchair tennis.
Taking a closer look at which events Paralympic viewers are eager to watch shows that Para swimming is the most popular (36%). Para athletics (30%) and sitting volleyball (27%) round out the top three most popular events. Blind football (soccer) (20%) and goalball (15%) seem to be the lesser-known sports in the Games.
As excitement towards this summer’s Paralympics heightens, Americans who enjoyed watching the Olympics can be counted on to tune into the upcoming Games. Streaming services and live TV will take the top spots for viewers, with Peacock or NBC/CNBC as the most popular options. As athletes compete at the highest level, the Paralympics showcase inspired talents for gold, silver, and bronze medals.
