As General Manager of the Olympic Channel, Mark Parkman is responsible for overseeing the content creation, technical delivery and digital platform development, as well as integrating partnerships with Olympic Rights Holding Broadcasters, sponsors, International Sports Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and organizing committees of the Olympic Games (OCOGs). In its first year of operation, the Olympic Channel was named the Best Sport Thematic Channel by the TV Sports Awards.
Following its launch in 2016, the Olympic Channel has amassed nearly nine million followers on social media and has generated more than 2.5 billion video views across its platforms from the 19,500 pieces of video that have been created. Original productions include more than 65 series from companies representing 25 different countries, with many of the content winning awards, including the prestigious Webby and Telly Awards. Parkman also created the critically acclaimed documentary series Five Rings Films and selected legendary Hollywood producer Frank Marshall and Mandalay Sports Media to co-produce the films. Agreements have been reached with 91 international sports federations, which have resulted in the Olympic Channel live streaming more than 3500 events. A traditional television version of the Olympic Channel made its debut in 35 million homes in cable systems across the USA on July 2017 in partnership with NBC and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), beIN HD 10 Olympic Channel was created in November 2017 and is distributed across 23 countries. The Olympic Channel extended its distribution to connected TV devices in late-2018 and early-2019 with the launch on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku. Continuing in 2020, Olympic Channel will launch a television channel and a localized website and apps in China in partnership with CCTV.
Before joining the Olympic Channel, Mark served as the Operations Executive for Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Vice-President of International Sports Broadcasting (ISB), where he oversaw the operations of the host broadcaster for the Olympic Games. He was awarded an Emmy for his work on the host broadcaster team for the Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City 2002. Mark previously worked in marketing, public relations and international television coordination with Turner Broadcasting System and Cohn & Wolfe, where he led media efforts for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR and PGA Golf.
