Arlington, Virginia - With the conclusion of the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament and the beginning of the 2015 MLB baseball season, more sports fans than ever are interested in watching live games and events via mobile devices. According to the Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA)®Sports and Technology Study, 6th Edition, a third of sports fans (32 percent) report interest in watching sports live on their mobile devices, a significant increase from 2010 (20 percent).
While television remains the most frequently-used content consumption method for sports (90 percent), the study says four in ten (40 percent) sports fans have viewed or listened to sports online using a computer, tablet or smartphone within the past 12 months. Additionally, almost two in ten sports fans (19 percent) have consumed sports content on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter over the last year.
Many sports fans also supplement watching sports with other sports-related activities performed on consumer electronics devices including, using a second screen (i.e. mobile device) while watching sports on television (23 percent), using a digital video recorder (DVR) to pause or rewind portions of a game or event (21 percent), and using a DVR, VCR, or another recording method to record another game being played simultaneously (15 percent).
“The experience of being a sports fan has never been better thanks to the vast array of technologies and platforms delivering sports content today,“ said Steve Koenig, senior director of market research, CEA. “Sports fans not only enjoy watching games via mobile platforms, they say they’re willing to pay for more dynamic, mobile-accessible sports content.”
Sports enthusiasts who consume sports through television tend to own televisions with larger screens and better picture quality. Among self-described sports fans who watch sports on television, almost two-thirds (62 percent) own televisions with a screen size of 40 inches or larger, compared to 38 percent of non-sports fans.
Overall, larger screen sizes and innovative display features have more consumers upgrading their video experience. According to CEA’s U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts, televisions larger than 50 inches will account for 11.3 million units sold in 2015, up 8.1 percent from last year, while unit shipments of 4K Ultra HD displays are projected to reach four million in 2015 (a 208 percent increase).
The study also reports sports enthusiasts tend to be early technology adopters. Four in ten (42 percent) self-identified “super fans” consider themselves early embracers of new technology, while less enthusiastic sports fans identify themselves as late adopters of technology.
“Technology has long fostered greater engagement between sports and fans,“ said Koenig. “Today’s mobile technologies--combined with social platforms and apps--are building a connected community of fans; enriching the fan experience for all.”
The full CEA Sports and Technology Study, 6th Edition report examines consumer use of technology in the consumption of sports content. The study is designed and formulated by CEA Market Research, the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer electronics industry. Please cite any information to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
