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content in the same timeframe. And by November, the Channel had generated more than 300 million video views across its social media platforms, including its Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram accounts. “For me, that’s been the big success,” Mark Parkman, General Manager of the Olympic Channel, says of the various social media initiatives. “We’ve been able to extend the life of the Games beyond Rio 2016 and in doing so, we’ve taken the Channel to the various sports that are part of the Olympic Movement – as well as some that will be part of the Olympic Movement in the future.”This relationship with each Olympic sport is at the core of the Olympic Channel’s output, and by the end of October, agreements had been signed with more than 33 International Federations (IFs) relating to collaboration on original programming and live event coverage. “We’re sending crews to events and giving those events extra exposure through content creation that is sharable on the IF platforms as well as our social media distribution platforms,” Parkman adds.This has the mutually benefi cial effect of giving IFs greater traction for their events through an alternate broadcast stream which, in turn, can then drive followers of that sport to the Olympic Channel App, website or social media pages. Between the launch and the end of 2016, the Channel will present live coverage of more than 40 events in partnership with a number of IFs – with some of them already proving a big hit.In fact, one of the Olympic Channel’s fi rst live event broadcasts was a major success story, as the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) men’s fi nal Olympic qualifying tournament for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, drew ice hockey fans to the Channel to watch an event that wasn’t widely distributed elsewhere. And in October, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) enlisted the Channel’s help in growing its 3x3 format – which has already proved so popular at the Youth Olympic Games – by live streaming the 3x3 World Championships in Guangzhou (China) and 3x3 World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi (UAE).With other summer sports such as badminton, canoe slalom and table tennis – all of which gained a spike in popularity following Rio 2016 – also having international events shown live on the Channel, the early signs are promising for an aspect of the Channel’s programming that is set to continue growing as relationships are cultivated with IFs. However, live event coverage is only one facet of the Channel’s efforts to raise the profi le of Olympic sports and, crucially, to encourage participation among young people. Its original programming, which will showcase both short-form and long-form content covering a diverse array of subjects, promises a more intimate portrayal of Olympians through series ranging from the light-hearted to the inspirational. “Against All Odds”, for example, tells the story of how a particular athlete overcame the odds to reach the pinnacle of sport.“We’re wanting to surprise people in some respects by showing different sides of athletes; how they train, eat, compete, and get to the level of being among the most elite athletes in the world,” says Parkman. “We know that the athletes are at the centre of the Olympic Movement, and we want to tell their stories, show their journeys and share their triumphs.”With more than 50 shows already in production with different companies around the world from Cambodia to Rwanda, India to Argentina, users can Above Olympic Channel Services now employs more than 100 personnelLeft Fans can use the Olympic Channel to engage with their favourite athletes‘WE’RE WANTING TO SURPRISE PEOPLE BY SHOWING DIFFERENT SIDES OF ATHLETES’MARK PARKMAN, OLYMPIC CHANNEL GENERAL MANAGER 40+LIVE EVENTS broadcast by the end of 2016OLYMPIC CHANNEL44 OLYMPIC REVIEW