Monthly Spending by Sports Enthusiasts on Streaming Services Revealed: $88

Monthly Spending by Sports Enthusiasts on Streaming Services Revealed: $88

The sports media landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with sports programming transitioning from traditional broadcast and cable networks to streaming platforms. According to Michael Goodman, Senior Analyst at Parks Associates, this shift is a response to the growing demand for digital content and the convenience it offers.

However, this transition has not been without its challenges. A report titled "Streaming Live Sports: Where Opportunity Meets Complexity," released by InterDigital and Parks Associates, reveals that over half (57%) of sports viewers face issues such as buffering and poor video quality when streaming live sports.

To address these concerns, several key solutions are being proposed and implemented. One such solution is the adoption of more efficient video codecs like HEVC and H.266 (VVC). These codecs significantly improve compression efficiency, reducing the bandwidth required for high-resolution streaming. H.266, in particular, targets next-gen streaming demands, enabling smoother high-resolution streams with less data load.

Another solution is the implementation of low-latency streaming protocols and workflows. These include Low-Latency HLS (LL-HLS), WebRTC, and Media over QUIC (MoQ). Each of these protocols offers benefits tailored to different streaming needs, working together to deliver a seamless, buffering-free experience.

Content-aware encoding and adaptive bitrate streaming are also being utilised to ensure the stream fits the viewer’s bandwidth while maximising quality. Improved infrastructure and CDN optimisation further contribute to maintaining streaming quality and minimising latency spikes.

fallback mechanisms are also being employed to ensure a smooth experience despite potential latency increases, given some devices or browsers may not fully support newer protocols.

The world of television sports is increasingly moving towards streaming via digital platforms, offering sports fans more ways than ever to engage with their favourite teams or sports. Niche sports and out-of-market matches, previously unavailable, are now easily accessible, expanding the sports audience.

Interestingly, the report also found that sports fans spend an average of $88 per month on streaming services compared to $64 per month by those who don't watch sports. Moreover, more female sports fans than men stream sports exclusively (49% vs 42%).

The full report "Streaming Live Sports: Where Opportunity Meets Complexity" is available to download, providing a comprehensive exploration of how people consume live sports entertainment, including broadcast, SVOD services, D2C subscription models, pay-per-view, and paywall systems.

Providers have new opportunities to engage viewers in interactive activities such as multicasts, live chats, and in-game betting, provided the experience is easy and seamless, according to Michael Goodman. As the sports streaming landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that these advancements will play a crucial role in delivering a superior viewing experience for sports fans.

1. The shift from traditional broadcast networks to streaming platforms in the sports media landscape is a response to growing demand for digital content and convenience.
2. A report reveals that over half of sports viewers face issues like buffering and poor video quality when streaming live sports.
3. To address these issues, the adoption of more efficient video codecs like HEVC and H.266 (VVC) is being proposed, improving compression efficiency and reducing bandwidth for high-resolution streaming.
4. Low-latency streaming protocols and workflows, such as Low-Latency HLS (LL-HLS), WebRTC, and Media over QUIC (MoQ), are being implemented to deliver a seamless, buffering-free experience.
5. Content-aware encoding and adaptive bitrate streaming are being utilised to ensure the stream fits the viewer’s bandwidth while maximising quality.
6. While providers implement these solutions, fallback mechanisms are also being employed to ensure a smooth experience despite potential latency increases.
7. The world of television sports is increasingly moving towards streaming via digital platforms, offering more ways for fans to engage with their favorite teams or sports.
8. According to the report, sports fans spend an average of $88 per month on streaming services compared to $64 per month by those who don't watch sports, and more female sports fans than men stream sports exclusively.

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