Seven promises to deliver 40 live streams, eight channels and 20m viewers for Tokyo 2020
Seven launched its Tokyo 2020 Olympic coverage last night, promising coverage on both Seven and 7Two as well as six additional channels for 7Plus users, up 40 live streams of every sport, and the most viewers for any Olympic and Paralympic Games in history.
The coverage starts with the launch of the Olympic Channel on 7Plus which will run 365 days a year and showcase some of the best Olympic moments and sporting events from around the world.
Curtis McGrath, Sally Pearson and Chloe Esposito at the launch event
With exactly one year to go, the network held a launch event featuring Olympians Sally Pearson and Chloe Esposito, and Paralympian Curtis McGrath, who were interviewed by sports journalist Jim Wilson. Seven’s key selling point for the coverage will be that Tokyo is only an hour different to Australian Eastern Standard Time, giving the channel the ability to show the events in primetime slots.
The network is promising more than 20m Australians will watch through the broadcast and 5m online (with some cross-over with the broadcast audience), more than both Rio 2016 and Sydney 2000. That would also make it the biggest digital event in Australia’s history, Seven said.
Mumbrella understands Seven is looking to dominate the commercial TV ratings during its 2020 Olympics coverage, with around a 60% commercial share.
Around 450 Australian athletes will be heading to Tokyo, including Pearson and McGrath, who will be joined by Australia’s highest-paid athlete of all time, Ben Simmons, surfing legends Sally Fitzpatrick and Stephanie Gilmore, Sam Kerr, Mack Horton, Ash Barty, and Dylan Alcott.
Seven West Media chief revenue officer and director of Olympics, Kurt Burnette, said brands would be severely missing out by not getting involved.
“Put simply this will be the most-watched Olympics and the biggest digital event in Australian history,” said Burnette.
Pearson, McGrath and Esposito discuss their journey to Olympic and Paralympic gold
“Our coverage of the Olympics and Paralympics will be unprecedented, and with time zones differing by only one hour Tokyo 2020 will feel like a home Games for Australian viewers.
“We will deploy the most-advanced ad tech and measurement metrics ever used for a sporting event, enabling brands to have real-time engagement and connection with their target audiences, wherever and whenever they are watching, on any device.
“On top of the broadcast and streaming coverage, Tokyo 2020 will be integrated across all Seven West Media platforms, including 7News.com.au, Pacific Magazines and The West Australian, providing a complete cross-platform Olympics experience for Australians.
“This all adds up to the most powerful marketing and media platform Australia will experience in this decade or the next.”
The 25m claim is bold
The current ABS Population Clock pegs our population at 25,423,568. and Seven’s signal doesn’t cover the entire land mass.
Buyers, get that one in writing with appropriate compensation.
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Hi there,
Seven has since clarified that the anticipated 5m audience online will cross over with the 20m who will watch on TV.
I have updated the story to make this clearer.
Thanks,
Vivienne – Mumbrella
So they are double counting if they are saying that there will be 5 mil cross over watches online.
I think they are under estimating the online audience prediction. But if you have to register and maybe pay to watch their online streams then the audience will be way lower.
Take a look at online audience for example to euro vision song contest this was 40 million people watching it from 225 territories. And 182 million watched it on tv broadcast.
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