Warner Bros. Discovery has announced unparalleled streaming achievements for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The company observed a remarkable surge in viewership across its digital platforms, HBO Max and Discovery+, marking a substantial 103% increase in total viewing hours compared to the Beijing 2022 Games. This impressive growth highlights the increasing preference for digital consumption of major sporting events, particularly when coupled with innovative viewing features.

The return of the Olympic Winter Games to Europe played a pivotal role in captivating a vast audience. Enhanced by Warner Bros. Discovery's cutting-edge streaming experience, including the popular 'Olympics Multiview' feature, European viewers showed unprecedented levels of engagement. This allowed subscribers to simultaneously watch up to four events, along with personalized watch lists and real-time updates, significantly enriching their viewing journey.

The company quickly surpassed its previous streaming records. Within the initial three days of competition, the total number of subscribers tuning into Milano-Cortina content on HBO Max and Discovery+ exceeded the entire streaming audience of the Beijing 2022 Games. This early success underscored the immediate impact of the European location and the platform's advanced offerings. Social media engagement also saw an extraordinary leap, with over 4 billion video views on Eurosport and TNT Sports accounts, representing a 580% increase from Beijing 2022.

Andrew Georgiou, President and Managing Director of WBD Sports Europe, lauded the outstanding performance, emphasizing that the initial success transitioned into a phenomenal Olympic Winter Games for Warner Bros. Discovery. He highlighted the significant growth in both streaming viewership and linear audiences. The streaming platforms provided comprehensive coverage, broadcasting all 246 live sessions and 116 medal events featuring 2,900 athletes across the 19-day period. Countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and the U.K. individually reported triple-digit streaming growth, further demonstrating the widespread appeal.

Beyond digital platforms, linear television also demonstrated robust performance. WBD’s Eurosport and TNT Sports channels recorded a 3% rise in total viewers compared to Beijing 2022, bucking the general trend of declining linear TV consumption. Total linear hours viewed surged by 51%. Notable linear gains were observed in France (+47%), Germany (+50%), Poland (+32%), and the U.K. and Ireland (+60%). This dual success across both streaming and traditional broadcast channels positions Warner Bros. Discovery strongly for future Olympic events, including Los Angeles 2028 and the return of the Olympic Winter Games to the French Alps in 2030.

The Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games have established a new benchmark for Warner Bros. Discovery, showcasing the immense potential of integrating advanced streaming technology with compelling sports content. The strategic decision to enhance viewer experience through features like Multiview and personalized alerts proved highly successful, significantly boosting engagement and viewership across Europe. This achievement provides a solid foundation for upcoming major sporting events, reinforcing the company's position as a leader in sports broadcasting and digital media.