There is no doubt one of the world’s fastest-growing industries recently has been the live sports streaming business. Over the last two years, almost every major broadcaster has launched an OTT platform, including ESPN, CBS, and NBC.
There are many components to the live sports streaming business, including providing a range of brands with a powerful medium to reach new target audiences.
Since the industry is rapidly growing, more competitors are taking over the space, such as fuboTV, which acquired the broadcasting rights to the English Premier League from DAZN ahead of the 2022/23 season. There is also a range of equipment that has been introduced to make watching live sports easier. Because of this, sports fans may be confused about which platforms to use and what equipment to buy. Today’s article will cover these things and provide an overview of global sports viewership.
Divided Global Popularity
Live sports streaming is a global phenomenon. But, that doesn’t mean the popularity of certain sports is equal in every country. For example, roughly 57 million viewers in the United States tuned into live sporting events in 2021, and experts project this figure will increase to over 90 US viewers by 2025. The top sports to watch in the US are American football and basketball, with leagues like the NFL and NBA dominating the screen. The NFL is only going to become more popular now that the NFL’s midweek showcase, Thursday Night Football, is available for streaming on Amazon Prime. Last year, the two parties entered into an 11-year contract worth $1 billion per year.
Comparatively, countries like the United Kingdom are bigger fans of watching sports like football (known as soccer in the US), golf, rugby, and cricket. According to ExpressVPN’s sports streaming infographic, the most popular football teams in terms of streaming interest in England are Liverpool (which has a sizeable lead over the other four teams), Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. Similarly, football is the most popular sport to watch in Brazil as well as India, which also favours sports like cricket.
How to Live Stream Sports
#1: Plan And Prepare
Like your favourite team, make sure you’re prepared to stream a game well before it goes live. If you know the game starts at 9 am, you want to try to be sitting in front of your computer or smartphone at least 10 minutes before it starts. That way, if there are connection problems, you have time to sort them out before the game gets underway. Likewise, if you’re going to be out of the house when the game starts, such as on public transit like buses or trains, and you still want to watch the game, you’re going to have to have the necessary tech products that’ll allow you to stream out of the house. For example, because you don’t want to deplete your device’s battery while you’re out and streaming sports, you can use portable power banks during long commutes. As per Quality Logo Product’s post, there are many advantages of using portable power banks since they let you charge your device wherever you are. They are also customisable, reusable, and affordable.
#2: Pick Your Preferred Video Hosting Platform
Another step in preparing to stream live sporting events is to choose a video hosting platform. As mentioned, there are many competitors in the space today, and each brings something different to the table. Some of the best sports streaming services of 2022 include ESPN Plus, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. Hulu is also an excellent streaming option for sports fans since the service offers a range of broadcast networks, including ESPN, BTN, Golf Channel, FS1 and FS2, and NBC Sports Network. You also want to consider any available deals and if these platforms have pay-per-view options. For instance, DAZN offers pay-per-view events. According to Sports Business Journal’s article, DAZN began prepping for its first PPV event in March 2022. Like with any purchase, weigh all the pros and cons before you choose a video streaming platform and start paying a monthly subscription.
#3: Figure Out If You Want to Be an Active or Passive Streamer
Once you’re set up, you can start thinking about the type of sports streamer you want to be. Some people may prefer to sit back and watch passively, while others may want to monetise their passion for sports by streaming their reactions to live games. For example, YouTubers like Expressions became famous for reacting to live Tottenham Hotspur games. Now he has a partnership with Barstool Sports and has given analysis on popular sports broadcast networks like Sky Sports.
The live sports streaming industry is on the rise, and because of this, we’re going to see more OTT platforms launched to cater to the hundreds of different types of sports fans out there. Even though streaming is part of the norm, many people may find it difficult to know which technology to use and the correct platforms to choose. However, weighing the pros and cons and building tech bags will ensure the process is seamless, and you never miss a goal or play.
