Survey carried out by video production suite Grabyo reveals rising demand for online viewing
A recent survey carried out by browser-based live video production suite Grabyo has found that 80% of sports fans based in the UK want to watch their favourite sports, including football, exclusively via live streaming.
The same survey also found a 38% rise in the viewing of short-form video content.
40% of respondents also confirmed that they already use online live streaming platforms to watch sport.
On the other hand, fans using traditional pay-TV networks to access their favourite sports is dwindling. The number is said to have gone down by 27% since 2021.
The Grabyo survey also found that 47% of fans are using smartphones to follow live sport.
Football live streaming on the rise
The popularity of sports live streaming, including football live streaming, in the UK continues to grow rapidly. The BBC reported that their coverage of England's opening game against Iran at the Qatar World Cup was streamed eight million times on their live streaming platform BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, making it the public broadcaster's most-streamed event in history.
In terms of social media, YouTube is reportedly the most popular platform among UK based fans for streaming live sport, with short-form video platform TikTok the fastest growing option. Short-form content is growing in popularity across the board, including in sport and football.
This report published by Grabyo was based on a survey of more than 1000 UK based consumers.
The findings also pointed to a marked increase in the appeal of women's sport in the country. The number of female sports fans in the UK is said to have risen by 65% since 2021.
"Linear broadcast audiences will continue to fall"
Gareth Capon [below], Chief Executive of Grabyo, gave some further insight into the report:
“Since 2019 we have been closely tracking how sports fans want to consume video, and this year’s findings suggest we’re nearing a tipping point. Sports viewership may begin to fall back unless more flexible streaming options become available.
"Many broadcasters are acutely aware of this trend, but our findings paint a clear picture of what sports fans want from rights holders and broadcasters."
“With social media and streaming becoming the preferred options for video viewing, linear broadcast audiences will continue to fall."
The desire among sports and football fans to consume high profile events on traditional, linear television is clearly decreasing, especially among young people.
Football live streaming becomes more popular every year and this trend shows no sign of slowing down.
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