Sports have been one of the most popular pastimes of people since time immemorial, and they continue to be so today. Thanks to the online streaming of leagues and tournaments we can practically enjoy any type of sport at any given time. The fact that many sportsbooks allow you to watch unlimited sports content for free using their streaming services means people in every corner of the world can now enjoy sports that they would otherwise be unable to access. Let's take a look at the current state of sports streaming in a few of the most sports-crazed countries.
Sports Streaming in Great Britain
With the entry of online streaming platforms, people in the UK have shifted their focus from pay-TV subscriptions to these platforms merely for the entertainment they offer. A recent study says that 59% of sports enthusiasts are ready to watch their favorite sports via websites and other online channels. Surprisingly, more than half of the population who watch sports streaming are ready to pay to be able to watch sports without any interruption. One of the most enjoyed sports in Great Britain is unarguably football. With the Premier League season arriving, fans across the country are waiting for the live streams to support their favorite teams.
Sports Streaming in India
As a developing country, India has come a long way in terms of digital transformation, which has affected every aspect of life. Hotstar remains the market leader with a 40% market share. Cricket is the most popular digitally streamed sport. Sports fans have recently become interested in games other than cricket, and they are watching leagues such as the Hockey India League and the Premier Badminton League, among others. India is also not far behind in terms of online betting, which has a sizable fan base. The number of new betting sites in the last year demonstrates how quickly India's offshore betting industry is growing. Further, free bets in India are much more common than in the rest of the betting world, especially when it comes to free cricket bets.
Sports Streaming in the USA
The growing digital market and the present pandemic have contributed to a rise in sports streaming in the USA. It is estimated that the country will see an increase in the viewership of digital sports content to as high as 57.5 million in the current year. This includes the viewership of the digital platforms and the streaming services like Amazon Prime Video. It is expected of these digital services to get increased revenues while the traditional TV subscriptions are decreasing day by day. The Americans fall head over heels for their most favorite sport, American football, every time matches are streamed online. Other sports that are popular in the USA include baseball and basketball, to name a few.
Sports Streaming in Canada
Marketing reports show that 37% of Canadians who use the internet watched sports highlights and leagues this year, a value much higher than last year. According to a survey by Truenorthcasinos and betting, the most popular sport in the country is the NHL which is live-streamed by the media giant Rogers Media. Interestingly, Rogers Media reported a spike in the number of subscribers while NHL was going live. Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are also in the race to stream games like football, baseball, and Tennis. Apart from these, many services have popped up owing to the huge audience each of them has managed to make and keep entertained. With the changing viewing habits of Canadians, these online sports streaming services are here to stay for a while.
Sports Streaming in Australia
Unlike many other countries, sports fans in Australia are still glued to the TV to satisfy their hunger to see live matches. But there is scope for digital platforms, and the recent data show a heightened interest in these among sports lovers. Netflix has gained huge popularity as an online streaming service, and even the role of social media cannot be overlooked. The good news is that the OTT services in Australia have reached a market penetration of 51%, with people mostly choosing to watch sports than films or news. Aussies are more eager to watch NRL, AFL, Boxing, Super League, and the list goes on.
Sports Streaming in The Middle East
Gambling and betting is considered illegal in most parts of the Middle East. Still, the high interest in sports and football, in particular, has created a massive demand for online betting options. For this reason, almost every major bookmaker in Europe has added an Arabic casino and betting platform, and some of the biggest operators also offer Arabic-speaking customer support. Live streaming of international sports through these bookmakers has made it possible for people in rural parts of the Middle East to watch international football.
It can be said that when more and more people were stuck at home due to the recent situations, digital streaming services were a boon for sports fans. They could watch any league happening in any part of the world with the digital services competing to provide the best to their viewers. Experts believe that the scope of online sports streaming is expected to grow in the coming years, promising great revenues for online platforms. The changing preferences of sports lovers will definitely boost their popularity.
