Paris Olympics to garner 150 million viewership on Digital, 120 million on Linear TV

With the Paris 2024 Olympics starting from Friday, Viacom18 Sports is set to provide an immersive viewing experience on Sports18 and JioCinema. Experts predict that the Paris Olympics will attract 150 million viewers on the digital platform and 120 million viewers on linear TV. Compared to the Tokyo Olympics, there’s a 70 percent increase in advertisements and sponsorships, indicating growing brand interest in non-cricket sports events.

Experts also note that, for the first time, digital and TV ad rates are similar for the Paris 2024 Olympics, at approximately Rs 1,40,000 per 10 seconds for both Standard and High Definition TV channels. Around 100-120 million viewers are expected to tune in to Sports18 Network, and about 150 million viewers are anticipated to watch the Olympic Games on JioCinema.

Viacom18 Sports has onboarded SBI and JSW Group as co-presenting sponsors, Thums Up and Herbalife as associate sponsors, and Aditya Birla Life as the highlights partner. Other brand partners include AMFI, MRF, Bacardi Martini, Punjab National Bank, and Reliance Foundation.

Several well-known brands have already launched their advertising campaigns in anticipation of the event. For instance, JSW has initiated a robust campaign, setting the stage early. Similarly, brands like Britannia, Thums Up, and Omega are gearing up, ensuring their presence during this global sporting spectacle.

“We are expecting significant growth in terms of CTV viewership. We are very excited about CTV as a medium. Viewers will surely enjoy the CTV experience that we are building during Olympics”, said Siddharth Sharma, Head of Content for Viacom18 Sports. JioCinema will stream 20 concurrent live feeds for Olympics which includes 17 sports-wise feeds and 3 exclusively curated feeds dedicated to the Indian Contingent in Paris, Global Action, and a special focus on Women Athletes. Viewers can watch India specific feed in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

When asked about the response from advertisers, Sharma said, “Response from advertisers is a testament of how there is an appetite for sports as a whole and even beyond cricket. Advertiser interest for the event is up by 70 percent of the previous edition. Also, performance of Indian contingent in last Olympic has raised interest of advertisers and sponsors towards non-cricket sport for both TV and Digital as a medium.”

Sharma said, “Brands advertising on TV are also opting for Digital and we have received a great response from the advertisers. Our effort towards Paris Olympics will provide immersive experience to the audience.”

Ad inventory sold out?
Rashi Bhushan, AVP – Digital Media Planning & Buying, Mudramax elaborates on why advertisers are investing in non-cricket sport and says, “The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which faced unique challenges and offered distinct opportunities for advertisers, which also significantly influenced revenue outcomes. The expected viewership reflects projections estimating around 150 million digital viewers and an additional 100-120 million tuning in on linear TV.”

Elaborating on the ad rates, Bhushan said, “On television, ad rates currently start from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.2 lakh per 10 second. These rates can vary significantly from the initial card rates offered, which are typically influenced by the scale of commitment made in the overall advertising deal. In contrast, on OTT platforms such as Jio Cinema, Connected TV (CTV) options the prices range between Rs 70,000 to Rs 75,000. The cost per thousand impressions (CPM) for handheld devices is priced between Rs 220 to Rs 225, demonstrating a strategic pricing model designed to cater to various advertising needs and platforms.”

Multiple brands have already initiated their campaigns featuring non-cricket stars, Ahmed Aftab Naqvi, Global CEO and Co-Founder, GOZOOP Group said, “Olympic players are the best talent in the world, any association with them will garner a lot of respect and recognition for brands.”

JioCinema has also collaborated with ShareChat and Moj for providing diverse and multi-lingual content to the audience via the homegrown short video format platform. Bhushan said, “Media platforms has already been sold, underscoring the high demand. The peak concurrency rates, which are expected to be significant, will likely lead to a sold out status for remaining inventories as the event progresses. Additionally, strategic partnerships with short-form content platforms such as ShareChat and Moj are set to enhance the advertising impact, aiming to deliver a uniquely engaging experience. These collaborations highlight the evolving dynamics of media consumption and the increasing importance of integrating traditional and digital advertising strategies.”

With a substantial increase in both viewership and advertiser interest compared to previous Olympics, showcases the evolving behaviour of audience towards consumption of sports content in the country. StoryBoard18