More than 80% of the streaming audience on Max, Discovery+ in Europe
In just two days, Warner Bros. streaming services Max and Discovery+ pulled the plug. Discovery has more unique viewers for the Paris Olympics than for the entire 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Max, which launched internationally ahead of the Olympics to acquire new subscribers, has benefited from strong momentum. According to WBD, the games account for 80% of the total streaming audience among European subscribers so far. Five times as many streaming viewers watched the Paris Games compared to the same period for the Tokyo Olympics, the company said. Additionally, WBD set a new record for single-day gross streaming subscriber gains across Europe during its opening weekend, exceeding expectations.
WBD revealed that the Paris Olympics have generated almost 1 billion streaming minutes across Europe to date, more than seven times more than at the same point in Tokyo 2020, and already represent 75% of those games’ total minutes.
Viewers on Max and Discovery+ also spend 63% more time (based on average minutes) compared to Tokyo 2020.
“The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are off to a fantastic start, and the recent rollout of Max in Europe is driving record audiences and engagement,” said JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games, Warner Bros. Discovery. He added that the “powerful and unique combination of premium films and scripted content, the best real-life entertainment and many of the biggest events in international sport will bring more people to Max and keep them engaged even longer. ” “It’s still early days, so we’re excited to build on this early success over the next two weeks,” he continued.
Andrew Georgiou, president and managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe said: “Paris 2024 has been highly anticipated, so it is hugely rewarding to see the quality of our sports production and user experience of our streaming platform. resonate so strongly with viewers across Europe.”
“In just a few days we have seen how the combination of premium sports and entertainment brings together audiences across all platforms,” Georgiou continued.
As the newly merged media company marks its first Olympic Games, Warner Bros. Discovery has centralized its coverage of Paris 2024 with a splashy open-air production center with panoramic views and ample studio space.
The rooftop facility, nicknamed WBD House, built on top of Paris’s Hotel Raphaël, offers commentary on 13 markets and houses four studios and three stand-up positions, with views of the Parisian landmarks where competition venues take place.
WBD’s pay-TV banner Eurosport, meanwhile, will broadcast 3,800 live hours, including all 329 medal events, with all 32 Olympic sports getting a dedicated page via Max or Discovery+.
Max launched in France and Belgium in June, following a rollout in 22 countries across Scandinavia, the Iberian Peninsula, Spain, the Netherlands and Central-Eastern Europe in the spring.
