5 Reasons for why Live-Sports Viewing Habits have Changed

For most of 2020, sports fans faced months of drought and reruns, waiting for the return of live sports. With their return, usage of sports streaming services has once again increased dramatically and fans are discovering new platforms and devices to stream their favorite teams and athletes. 

However, ratings and viewership overall are showing mixed results upon the return to TV for major sports leagues. According to several sources, viewership of NHL first round playoff games was up from last year, while NBA ratings are down. MLB is doing well regionally, yet national viewership is lagging.

What are causing these variations in viewing habits? There are several explanations and theories: 

1. League bubbles and no home/local games for the NHL and NBA. The result is a different fan experience on screen.
2. Schedules and timing. The stakes for NHL teams were high from the re-start with an elimination round and then right into playoffs. The NBA started the playoffs in late summer, and MLB is out of sync with their usual season.
3. Small bubbles for arenas means unusual start times for NHL games with afternoon and late night games, giving the feeling of NCAA March Madness, quite different than the usual hockey viewing habits.
4. Seasonal shift. Hockey and basketball in August/September competes against summer activities.
5. Politics and protests…. Certainly a possible explanation for decreased viewing.

Live sports are part of the cultural fabric worldwide, and this won’t change. The way people consume their favorite athletic competitions is changing though, and it will continue to change. More and more consumers are turning to smart TVs, connected devices and mobile phones for streaming sports services, and Accedo is helping drive this market-wide shift.

As we continue to support all of our many sports customers with innovative and compelling multi platform streaming services, contact us to learn how we can help you satisfy the changing habits of your viewers for sports or any other video content.