GENERATION STREAM: SPORTS EDITION

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The Scorecard

The year 2020 created unique, never‑before-seen moments that impacted not only the world around us, but also the world of sports. Despite these changes, sports fans maintained their fandom and were opened to a myriad of virtual experiences that diversified the ways they can fan sports.

In order to keep score on how sports fandom is evolving and explore the trends that are defining the future of TV and sports, we’ve unveiled our first report of Generation Stream: Sports Edition, ‘The Scorecard.’ Here’s a snapshot of a few key themes that emerged:

Sports
Go Deep

2020 recentered sports, as fans had to depart from tradition to adapt to the pandemic, protests, and political turmoil. Not surprisingly, sports fans felt the impact.

Beyond
the Big Four

The sports spectrum is broadening as streaming gives audiences access to new, niche and global sports, as well as new ways to experience sports beyond the game.

Out
of Bounds

It’s official: fewer sports streamers are rooting for their home team. Tipping the scales is Gen Z, a more geographically-agnostic generation, who is spreading their wings to express sports fandom beyond their zip code.

Fewer “Me’s”
in Team

Fewer sports streamers are personally identifying with sports teams, and more are simply following the sports they love.

Social
Gameplay

Social sites have completely changed the game of fandom. 1-in-5 sports streamers say that they built a stronger online community around sports, or engaged with more social media as a way to experience sports during the pandemic.

86%

of sports streamers say that the past year changed the way they watched sports.

68%

of sports streamers have become passionate about a sport that they didn’t have access to before streaming

59%

of sports streamers are fans of teams outside of where they live now or where they grew up versus 41% of those who say their fandom is still locally-based

+47%

of sports streamers are more likely to watch sports for the love of the sport versus the love of the team

93%

of sports streamers say social media benefits their sports viewing experience