Olivi Brett, Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Tara Vaughan from New Zealand win gold in the women’s four final. Canoe sprint at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium-flat water, Paris, France on Wednesday 8 August 2024. Photo credit: Iain McGregor / www.photosport.nz Photo: PHOTOSPORT
More than half of all New Zealanders tuned in to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 2.8 million people watching on Sky's channels over the 17-day event.
Sky's viewership figures show 2,819,200 people - or 57 percent of the population - watched the Games throughout the country, including on its free-to-air Sky Open channel.
The specific events which drew the most New Zealanders to tune in included Hayden Wilde's silver medal in the men's triathlon; Lydia Ko's gold medal-winning final round in the women's golf; and the women's pole vault qualifiers which saw Eliza McCartney, Imogen Ayris and Olivia McTaggart all progress to the final.
Sky said the rowing and canoe sprint finals that resulted in medals for Dame Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Emma Twigg, Lucy Spoors, and Brooke Francis also drew in high viewership numbers.
The most-watched sports overall were athletics, rowing, swimming, canoe sprinting, artistic gymnastics and golf.
Photo: AAP Image/Dave Hunt/Photosport
Sky chief content and commercial officer Jonny Errington said it was great that the event drew such high interest.
"It's wonderful to see so many New Zealanders rally behind our athletes as they represented us on the world stage," Errington said.
"Few events captivate the world like the Olympics, and these figures underline both the magnitude of this year's Games and the unprecedented success of our Kiwi athletes."
He said Sky's team in Paris delivered 82 live crosses and an 170 pre-recorded previews and recaps during the event.
"But what truly stood out were the raw, exclusive interviews with our athletes - these moments of triumph and heartbreak resonated deeply with audiences."
Sky said an average of 1.4 million viewers tuned in each day, while Sky Sport Now and Sky Go also experienced significant volumes of activity.
