As sports fans worldwide tune in to a myriad of athletic events this summer, new research commissioned by IBM (NYSE: IBM) reveals a growing generational shift and acceptance of technology-driven experiences that will impact the future of sports consumption.

The international study*, conducted by Morning Consult, gathers insights from more than 18,000 sports fans across 10 countries to better understand both how they follow and engage with sports, including live coverage, highlights, and summaries, as well as preferences for future engagement and consumption. The findings confirm that fans are prioritizing more personalized and time-saving digital sports content, with the majority recognizing the positive impact technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) will have on these experiences.

The data also confirms that younger sports fans are more likely to favour AI-enhanced features as they increasingly turn to digital platforms for sports content. Surveyed fans aged 18-29 are using a mobile phone or tablet as their primary device to watch sporting events more often than older fans, with free streaming of live sporting events being most popular among the those aged 18 to 44 in Canada. More than half of the younger respondents (60% of 18-29 year olds and 52% of 30-44 year olds) in Canada also believe AI will have a positive impact on sports. Respondents from older age groups remain loyal to traditional methods of consumption, with linear broadcasting being most popular among fans 45+. Twenty-seven percent of surveyed fans over the age of 55 believe AI will have a positive impact on sports.

“Fans worldwide are continuing to embrace platforms and solutions that allow them to feel more connected and informed on their favourite sporting events and athletes, and IBM’s new study confirms this now includes embracing technologies like AI to deliver these experiences,” said Noah Syken, Vice President, Sports and Entertainment Partnerships. “IBM’s longstanding portfolio of Sports and Entertainment partnerships aims to deliver on these expectations from fans by putting in the hands of our partners the most advanced IBM technologies from our AI and data platform watsonx.”

Other key study findings include:

Canadian fans are optimistic about the impact of technology on sports, paving the way for generative AI powered experiences

• 59% of respondents in Canada point to data analytics as having the most positive impact on sports, while 42% of respondents think AI will have a positive impact.
• When it comes to how generative AI can improve engagement, surveyed Canadian sports fans identify real-time updates (30%) and personalized content (24%) as the top priorities.

Canadian fans now prioritize personalized, bite-sized content when it comes to their consumption of sport content

• More than half (56%) of Canadian respondents turn to social media for additional sports content; 47% are getting additional content from broadcast/video news while 35% are turning to news articles.
• 71% of those Canadian fans engaging in additional sports content are viewing highlight videos of best moments; 45% are consuming post-match recaps and analysis.
• Among those engaging in additional sports content, Canadian respondents rank summarized content (39%) as their top priority followed by personalized content (26%).
• Sports fans are watching event summaries more often, with 34% of Canadian respondents indicating they watch summaries or highlights weekly; 36% report daily engagement.

Younger fans in Canada may be reshaping how consumers experience sports content, as they engage with content via multiple screens and are more likely to favour AI-powered enhancements

• Fans (18-44) are most likely to view sports highlights through social media over other platforms.
• When it comes to consuming sports content, fans aged 18-29 are more likely to rank personalized content as their top priority.
• Fans aged 18-29 are more likely to rate AI improvements as high priority, with real-time updates (44%) and unique insights (38%) topping the list of priorities.
  • While real-time updates (20%) and personalized content (15%) also top the list of AI improvement priorities among older fans (55+) in Canada, these respondents are much less likely to consider AI improvements a high priority.
• Younger fans are also more likely to be using multiple devices while engaging with sporting events than older fans (55+). 22% of younger fans in Canada surveyed use three or more devices while watching sports, a rate far higher of the global average of 8% and the next reporting country, US at 11%. Only 1% of older fans responded that they use three or more devices while watching sports.

While TV is the most common method for viewing sports, Canadian fans are increasingly using multiple devices to follow sporting events

• 65% of surveyed fans say linear or streaming TV is their top choice for watching sports.
• 39% of Canadian respondents say they are most likely to watch a live sporting event on linear broadcast (the highest number globally); 17% say they use a subscription streaming service and 25% use a free streaming service
  • Free streaming of live sporting events is most popular among younger Canadian fans aged between 18-44.
• Mobile devices are a noteworthy alternative for watching sports, with 16% of Canadian consumers reporting it is the top way they watch sporting events and 34% saying it is their second most likely option.
• 31% of surveyed Canadian sports fans use at least two devices while watching sporting events; 28% report they use at least two devices while listening to sports
  • 22% of fans in Canada between 18-44 are more likely to be using three or more devices than those surveyed in any other country (global average of 9%).
• Canadian respondents rank multi-tasking as the top reason for using multiple devices when consuming sports (50%), followed by finding more game information while watching (31%).

To view the full study, visit: https://filecache.mediaroom.com/mr5mr_ibmnewsroom/197710/IBM%20Global%20Sports%20Attitudes%20and%20Behaviors%20Report%20June%202024.pdf

*Study Methodology

This survey was conducted in May 2024 among a total sample of 18,082 sports fans 18+ in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The interviews for each country were conducted online, and the data is unweighted, with ~2,000 responses per market in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and India and ~1,000 responses per market in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

To qualify for this survey respondents must be at least an average sports fan and follow one or more of the following sports: Soccer, Cricket, Tennis, Basketball, Baseball, Rugby, Golf, American football, F1 racing, Track and field, Swimming, and the Olympics.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.  Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Source: IBM

Image by frimufilms on Freepik