World Archery signs exciting agreement with Olympic Channel

The agreement formalises a commitment between the governing body for the important Olympic sport of archery and the Olympic Channel, scheduled to launch in 2016.

It covers non-exclusive access to competition footage, news and athlete features that World Archery already produces, and cooperation on original programming. The Olympic Channel will focus on educational and youth-orientated programming, sustainability, sports science and nutrition, and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The Olympic Channel will mark a major shift in how the Olympic Movement connects with young people all year round. The International Federations have embraced the Olympic Channel and we look forward to working with them on the exciting programming and promotional opportunities. The newly formed Olympic Channel team is making steady progress, with the emphasis on ensuring the product is right and the quality of the programming matches our ambition. We look forward to announcing the 2016 launch date in the coming weeks.”

Mark Parkman, General Manager of Olympic Channel Services, said: “Preparations for the launch of the Olympic Channel are on course and the announcement of these cooperation agreements with our IF partners is another important step forward. We expect to make further announcements regarding collaborations with other IFs and stakeholders in the near future. Content production has begun, the technology and platforms are being tested, and there is a growing sense of energy and excitement here among the Olympic Channel team as we prepare for launch this year.”

The creation of an Olympic Channel was one of the key recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, aiming to provide a new way to engage young people and core fans in the Olympic Movement, while also promoting the Olympic values on a consistent basis. 

World Archery President and IOC Executive Board Member Prof Dr Ugur Erdener said: “World Archery fully supports the Olympic Channel initiative and its mission to promote the values of sport in the periods between Olympic Games. The increased exposure, interest and ability to tell the human stories behind the sport will all benefit us as an international federation.”

Archery’s popularity as a broadcast sport has increased steadily over the last decade, following the introduction of the Archery World Cup and rule changes that highlight the intensity, precision and exceptional technique required by the world’s best archery athletes.

The sport also has a history of innovation in broadcast technology.

World Archery was one of the first international federations to launch a YouTube Channel, which now has over 32 million views and 72,000 subscribers, has experimented with in-stadium video applications, and makes use of state-of-the-art equipment in the broadcast of its World Archery Championships and Hyundai Archery World Cup events.

Further announcements, including the launch date for the Olympic Channel, are expected in the near future.