Paralympic Committee Lands Record Rights Deal in Japan

(ATR) NHK broke multiple records with its new Paralympic media rights deal.

The International Paralympic Committee awarded NHK the Japanese television, radio, mobile, and internet rights for the 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 Paralympic games. It is the largest rights distribution deal in IPC history.

A spokesperson for the IPC tells Around the Rings that NHK will broadcast more than 150 hours of daily live coverage for Tokyo 2020, more than the coverage for the record-breaking London 2012 Paralympics. Broadcast hours for the other three Games covered by the deal have not been decided yet.

The spokesperson said that NHK will have the "option" to broadcast IPC world championships as part of the deal, even in non-Paralympic years.

"The deal means more para-sport coverage than ever before for Japanese TV viewers," Philip Craven, IPC president, said in a statement.

"Such a long-term agreement will enable us to further raise awareness of the Paralympic brand and its values in Japan in the lead-up to, during and in the years following the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games."

NHK will also work to provide dedicated Japanese websites for each Paralympics as part of the media rights agreement.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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