The Sochi Games global broadcast output is the biggest in Winter Olympics history, the International Olympic Committee has confirmed.

It was revealed that more than 102,000 hours of footage had been shown across 464 channels and digital platforms for the 2014 Games, compared to 57,000 hours from 240 broadcasters in Vancouver four years ago.

"The global broadcast has been bigger than for any previous Winter Games," managing director of IOC Television and Marketing Services, Timo Lumme, is quoted as saying by Reuters.

"Television is 42,000 hours on against 32,000 in Vancouver, and if you take the digital component it is 60,000 hours against 25,000 hours in Vancouver. We seem to be seeing a clear evolution in viewing patterns. We are now seeing a real shift from fixed screen to mobile."

Lumme also announced that over half of the United States' population had watched some of the Games, while three quarters of Russians have also tuned in.