By Gary Anderson

November 27 -Canadian fans will have access to comprehensive coverage of Team Canada's exploits at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games © Getty Images  A comprehensive broadcast deal which will see over 65 hours of television coverage and up to 350 hours of digital streaming of action from Sochi 2014 has been unveiled today by the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC).

The deal will see action available across five broadcast and digital platforms including long-time CPC partner Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) and Radio Canada, as well as Sportsnet, Accessible Media Inc, (AMI) and Yahoo Sports.

In addition, SendtoNews will distribute full news access highlights to all Canadian media for both broadcast and digital usage at no cost extra cost.

"This innovative model will bring the excitement and drama of the Paralympic Games in Sochi back home to Canada and connect with all Canadians," said CPC President Gaetan Tardif.

"This new partnership provides an opportunity for the CPC to increase awareness of the Paralympic Movement in Canada and bring unprecedented value to our corporate partners."

The CPC says that the Paralympic Broadcast Consortium was made possible through the support of its premium partners Petro-Canada, Canadian Tire, Air Canada and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

The Consortium has also secured broadcast rights for Rio 2016, as part of the new agreement.

The new CPC broadcast deal will see over 65 hours of television coverage broadcast from the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games © Sochi 2014The new CPC broadcast deal will see over 65 hours of television coverage broadcast from the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games ©Sochi 2014




























"During the London 2012 Paralympic Games, we saw broadcast records soar across many continents," said Martin Richard, executive director of communications and marketing at the CPC.

"In Canada, Canadians told us that they wanted more Paralympic Games coverage on television and the CPC listened and acted.

"Each media partner brings a unique element to the table allowing us to widen the scope of the coverage, yet share a common goal and passion of telling our athletes' incredible stories and exciting athletic achievements."

The coverage of Team Canada next year will be supplemented by digital streams and on-demand video clips available here and through dedicated social media channels on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Seven-time Paralympic champion Brian McKeever will be hoping to be one of the athletes whose exploits in Sochi will be beamed across Canada as a result of the new deal and he believes that the increased coverage will spur him and his teammates on next year in their hunt for medals.

"The visibility and support that Team Canada's athletes will experience through the Paralympic Broadcast Consortium will be a great morale boost to all of us competing in Sochi, knowing that our loved ones back home, as well as all Canadians, will be able to follow the action and cheer on their team," he said.

Seven-time Paralympic gold medallist Brian McKeever says the widespread support of Canadians watching back home will give him and his teammates extra motivation to succeed in Sochi © Getty Images Seven-time Paralympic gold medallist Brian McKeever says the widespread support of Canadians watching back home will give him and his teammates extra motivation to succeed in Sochi ©Getty Images


























The CPC added that detailed schedules of coverage on all platforms will be announced closer to Games time, as will on-air talent, which will include Paralympian commentators.

The deal in Canada adds to broadcast agreements already in place with Channel 4 in Britain, NBC in America and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Europe which the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) claims will see cumulative viewing figures for the 2014 Winter Paralympics break the previous record of 1.6 billion for Vancouver 2010.

IPC President Sir Philip Craven welcomed the announcement describing it as "fantastic news" while Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and chief executive of the Sochi 2014, said: "I am delighted by the news of the Canadian Paralympic Committee's innovative new broadcasting model: Sochi 2014 is opening yet another new chapter in Paralympic broadcasting.

"About 40 accredited broadcasters will beam Sochi 2014 to more people in more countries around the world than any Paralympic Winter Games in history.

"By sharing the talent, the courage and the determination of these athletes to the widest possible global audience, I am convinced that we will be making a significant contribution to the sustainable growth of the Paralympic Movement worldwide."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related Stories
November 2013: Sir Philip confident Sochi 2014 Paralympic viewing figures will be best ever with 100 days to go
September 2013: IPC and NBC announce 116 hours of combined coverage for Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016
May 2013: Channel 4 Paralympic coverage beats BBC's Olympic programmes to win Bafta for best sport and live event
February 2013: IPC agrees media deal with European Broadcasting Union for Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016
February 2013: Channel 4 wins Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Paralympic broadcasting contracts