Are Live Sports Under Threat? Two-thirds of Global Sports Executives Concerned Live Sports at Risk of Losing Relevance

Altman Solon’s 2024 Global Sports Survey shows many young viewers prefer highlights, documentaries, & short-form videos to watching live games

BOSTON & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two-thirds of global sports executives are concerned about the relevance of live sports as more younger fans gravitate towards highlights, documentaries, and short-form videos from fans, teams, and players over watching live games on video, according to Altman Solon’s 2024 Global Sports Survey.

The survey, which measures the habits of 3,000 global sports fans, reveals that a large percentage of young sports fans prefer watching game highlights and other content over watching the games themselves. In fact, only two-thirds of sports fans watch live matches, due to difficulty accessing content and a lack of a willingness to pay.

A related survey of 220 global sports executives conducted by Altman Solon acknowledged this fan dynamic, with 65% of executives expressing concerns over the continued relevance of live sports in the eyes of sports fans.

“The appetizer and dessert are becoming the main dish for many sports fans,” said Altman Solon Partner David Dellea. “This is a serious problem, as short-form content cannot possibly replace the unique commercial value of live sports. We’ve reached the tipping point where content originally created to generate interest in the games has become as sought after as the games themselves. The critical question for rights holders and partners is: how can we navigate challenges of discovery and access to funnel younger audiences to a live product that they want to watch?”

Other key findings of the consumer portion of the survey underscore industry concerns amid the explosion of streamers into the sports marketplace and the fragmentation of sports media:

• 66% of sports fans report having difficulty accessing their favorite live sports.
• 43% of sports fans say they're unwilling to pay for content at current pricing models.
• Younger generations cite lower sports viewership compared to older generations; this contrast is more pronounced in the U.S./U.K.

“The good news is that overall interest in sports is still strong,” said Altman Solon Director Matt Del Percio. “Despite lower interest in watching games among younger fans, live sports still move the needle for networks and streamers – but it is now important to elevate the adjacent content and monetize it in its own right.”

In the report, Dellea and Del Percio also included recommendations for sports rights holders and partners, including elevating standalone content and developing differentiated pricing.

In developing this report, Altman Solon surveyed 3,000 adult consumers and 220 senior sports executives across eight countries, including the U.S. the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, China, between July and August this year. Respondents represent the country’s population, weighted by age, gender, and income. Altman Solon will release more results from the survey in the coming months.

About Altman Solon

Altman Solon is the world’s largest strategy consulting firm focused exclusively on the Telecommunications, Media, and Technology (TMT) industries. We work with market leaders, challenger brands, and investors across TMT sectors. We support our corporate clients in identifying, developing, and implementing company strategies, new market entry approaches, digital innovation, and global M&A. We help our investor clients understand markets, conduct due diligence, and make high-stakes decisions with confidence.

Altman Solon works with seven of the top 10 global telecom companies, seven of the top 10 global tech companies, and six of the top 10 global media companies. Over the past twenty years, we have helped develop and implement era-defining strategies that have shaped the TMT sector.

Altman Solon has an extensive international reach with 14 global offices and successful projects completed across the globe in more than 100 countries.