The consumption of sports via mobile content is continuing to grow with print losing out to online.
Know The Fan – The Global Sports Media Consumption Report 2014’ from PERFORM, Kantar Media and SportBusiness Group says Online is second only to TV.
The most notable growth has been seen in Western Europe where, for example, mobile consumption of sport in Italy is now 50%, compared to 37% in 2013. Similarly, in Spain, mobile devices are used by 46% of fans to follow sport this year, which compares to 39% in 2013 and 20% in 2011.
The study also shows that approximately three-quarters of fans that use computers/laptops and three-quarters of fans that use mobile devices access content at least once a week.
Oliver Slipper, Joint-CEO, PERFORM, said: “We’re seeing the increased importance of connected devices, providing fans with greater flexibility and control. This provides a number of opportunities to all stakeholders in the digital sports media industry, from rights holders and sports associations to devices manufacturers, advertisers and betting companies, but it’s important that they respond to increasing demand for digital content.”
Newspapers are responding to the potential threat to their business. In the UK paid subscribers to online editions of The Times and The Sun offer their readers highlights of sports events such as Premier League football and Test Cricket.
