- New paid streaming subscribers for Beijing 2022 exceed PyeongChang 2018 by almost
50%
- Over 1 billion streaming minutes consumed across discovery+ and
Eurosport subscription services
- Discovery's average linear TV audiences, both free-to-air and
Eurosport, remain resilient and in line with PyeongChang 2018,
despite an overall 10% reduction in total TV usage since 2018
- Over half of new Olympic subscribers also enjoyed discovery+'s
entertainment content, meaningfully enhancing subscriber lifetime
value
LONDON, Feb. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery has
reported record Olympic Winter Games viewership and engagement on
its digital platforms, as the household appeal of discovery+ drove
significantly higher consumption and numbers of new paid
subscribers compared to PyeongChang 2018.
Concluding on Sunday 20 February, Beijing 2022 produced strong results across
Discovery's European television network and streaming products.
discovery+ drove an increased number of new paid streaming
subscribers, the total of which exceeded PyeongChang 2018 by almost
50%.
More than 156 million Europeans visited Discovery's platforms
with over one billion streaming minutes consumed, 19 times more
than the last Olympic Winter Games. discovery+ and Eurosport
streaming services* saw 8 times more streaming viewers during this
Games as users consumed more than double the content with average
consumption exceeding 7 hours per viewer. The same trend was
seen on linear television with viewers on average watching 24%
longer than PyeongChang 2018. The ad-supported Eurosport.com, and
its local country editions, reached over double the amount of users
compared to the same period.
Building on a strong first week, Eurosport's average linear
audiences remained resilient and were in line with the last winter
edition despite double digit reductions in total TV usage since
2018. High audience shares on Discovery's free-to-air networks in
the Nordic markets continued with highs of 88% (Norway), 83% (Sweden) and 82% (Finland). Eurosport channels saw
significant audience and share growth in many key markets -
including Poland (+36%),
Romania (+23%), and Italy (+250%) - and Discovery's channels
across both free-to-air and pay-tv saw an overall increase in
audience share.
Jean-Briac Perrette, President & CEO, Discovery Streaming
& International, said: "The Winter Olympics has proven
to be a terrific success for discovery+ and all our channels and
platforms across Europe. Discovery
is leading the way in building global scale in streaming whilst
also maintaining strength in traditional television viewership,
significantly outperforming the market across both.
"Well over half of all new Olympics subscribers also enjoyed
discovery+'s entertainment content, reinforcing the increased depth
and value of our offering. These subscribers remain engaged and
retained for longer, which meaningfully improves subscriber
lifetime value."
Andrew Georgiou, President of
Sports, Discovery, said: "The Olympics is a standout example of
how Discovery is unique in its ability to grow audience and
engagement for sports and the greatest events in the world. It is a
winning formula as we utilise our unrivalled scale across every
platform, maximising reach and giving consumers the ability to
watch wherever they choose. From discovery+ to our free-to-air
networks and Eurosport channels, as well as live updates, news and
on-demand video from our ad-supported digital and social
platforms.
"Yet all this wouldn't succeed without the quality and depth of
storytelling we deliver. Our outstanding line-up of experts and
editorial teams have set us apart in terms of providing the best
sporting analysis as well as covering the biggest stories of the
Olympics. Discovery's unique European footprint and scale, as well
as our use of the newest technology, allowed us to tell the most
important stories in the most compelling way."
Discovery presented Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 in 50
markets in Europe** featuring 11
national productions and coverage in 19 languages. It is the only
place in Europe to offer all of
the Olympics discovery+ and its Eurosport digital services.
*Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 is available to watch on
discovery+ in Denmark,
Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In all other European markets,
except Russia, Beijing 2022 is available on Eurosport's
digital services.
**Excludes Russia.
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SOURCE Discovery, Inc.