The opening week of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing has led to increased engagement on digital platforms across Europe. The first week of the Games has been an important moment for Discovery's European TV network and streaming Home of the Olympics platform, Discovery+.

During the first week of the Games, more people watched Olympic content than during the same period in 2018, with total new subscribers exceeding expectations. Moreover, with one more week of the competition is still ahead, the numbers are expected to grow even more.

 

 

 

 

 

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Increased audience on streaming platforms
Over three-fourths of a billion minutes of streaming content have been consumed on Discovery's platforms so far, exceeding the same period in 2018. People watching on television has also increased by around 30%.

Total TV usage has decreased more than 10% since 2018, but the average linear audience watching the 2022 Winter Olympics for Eurosport remains strong. In Nordic countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Finland, the audience for Discovery's linear channels remains strong, with 87 percent in Norway, 83 percent in Sweden, and 71 percent in Finland.

Olympics start on a substantial note for streaming platforms in Europe
Jean-Briac Perrette, President & CEO of Discovery's streaming division, said that the Olympics have started off on a strong note.

"The Olympics are off to a strong start across all our platforms, with Discovery+ at the forefront of this early success as the growth of our streaming service continues to significantly outperform," Perrette said.

The CEO also noted that the Olympics had strengthened the connection between sports and Discovery's Discovery+ entertainment service, attracting more than a third of new subscribers.

 

 

 

 

 

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"It is also reaffirming the power and value of integrating sports into our Discovery+ entertainment service. As well as attracting a significant number of new Discovery+ subscribers, sports broadens its appeal throughout the whole household and provides consumers an even greater, more retentive value proposition," the 49-year-old CEO stated.

"Through just this first week, more than a third of new Discovery+ Olympics subscribers have already consumed other entertainment content on the platform," he continued.

Moreover, Andrew Georgiou, President of Sport at Discovery, said that the company's robust audience and engagement growth during the Winter Olympics demonstrates the added value that Discovery brings to its partners and audiences.

Since the Olympics started, almost twice as many people have visited Eurosport.com compared to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics. The platform has also continued to expand its offerings, including live updates and on-demand video.

Discovery is presenting the Olympic Winter Games in 50 markets across Europe, with 11 national productions and extensive coverage in 19 languages.