Over 50s are increasingly turning to streaming to watch sports
Sports streaming is increasingly appealing to viewers aged 50 and over. — AFP Relaxnews
Often considered diehard fans of linear television, viewers over the age of 50 are quietly but decisively shifting toward streaming. Between 2022 and 2024, their consumption of streaming sports content reportedly increased by 21%, according to Nielsen. This shift is forcing sports and media companies to rethink the digital experience for a wider, more mature, and increasingly online audience.
Some stereotypes die hard. People typically assume that young people are addicted to streaming services, while older people are loyal to their TV sets. However, a new study challenges this preconception. According to the "2025 Global Sports Report,' published by Nielsen, streaming consumption of sports content has grown significantly among sports fans aged 50 and over, with a 21% increase recorded between 2022 and 2024.
This is significant growth, reflecting a cultural shift. While streaming platforms have long been popular primarily with younger generations, they are now extending their influence to a more mature audience that has historically been loyal to traditional TV channels. "Live sports remain a powerful driver of fan engagement," the report points out. And it is precisely this lever that has prompted platforms to invest heavily in broadcasting rights, thereby attracting a new audience.
Recently, YouTube achieved a symbolic milestone by announcing that it would livestream an NFL game for free, a historic first for both the video platform and the sports league. But the Google subsidiary is not alone in investing in sports streaming. Netflix already made a notable foray into the field at the end of 2024 by livestreaming two games, while Amazon Prime Video plans to make a splash with "Thursday Night Football,' scheduled for December 25, 2025. The e-commerce giant is no stranger to this field: it already screens several soccer matches as well as French Open tennis tournament matches.
Meanwhile, linear television is trying to reinvent itself to stay relevant. In the United States, the new TGL golf league, which is interactive, high-tech, and tailored for the screen, is a perfect example of this. Since the end of 2024, its fan base has grown by 17%, and each game in its first season attracted an average of 513,000 viewers on ESPN channels, more than college basketball at the same time last year, according to Nielsen. Designed to appeal to young people, the formula appears to be working, since 32% of viewers aged 18 to 34 were not regular PGA Tour viewers. This demonstrates that innovation in formats can revitalize traditional sports... and open them up to new audiences that have previously been largely untapped. – AFP Relaxnews
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Over 50s are increasingly turning to streaming to watch sports
Sports streaming is increasingly appealing to viewers aged 50 and over. — AFP Relaxnews Often considered diehard fans of linear television, viewers over the age of 50 are quietly but decisively shifting toward streaming. Between 2022 and 2024, their consumption of streaming sports content reportedly increased by 21%, according to Nielsen. This shift is forcing sports and media companies to rethink the digital experience for a wider, more mature, and increasingly online audience. Some stereotypes die hard. People typically assume that young people are addicted to streaming services, while older people are loyal to their TV sets. However, a new study challenges this preconception. According to the "2025 Global Sports Report,' published by Nielsen, streaming consumption of sports content has grown significantly among sports fans aged 50 and over, with a 21% increase recorded between 2022 and 2024. This is significant growth, reflecting a cultural shift. While streaming platforms have long been popular primarily with younger generations, they are now extending their influence to a more mature audience that has historically been loyal to traditional TV channels. "Live sports remain a powerful driver of fan engagement," the report points out. And it is precisely this lever that has prompted platforms to invest heavily in broadcasting rights, thereby attracting a new audience. Recently, YouTube achieved a symbolic milestone by announcing that it would livestream an NFL game for free, a historic first for both the video platform and the sports league. But the Google subsidiary is not alone in investing in sports streaming. Netflix already made a notable foray into the field at the end of 2024 by livestreaming two games, while Amazon Prime Video plans to make a splash with "Thursday Night Football,' scheduled for December 25, 2025. The e-commerce giant is no stranger to this field: it already screens several soccer matches as well as French Open tennis tournament matches. Meanwhile, linear television is trying to reinvent itself to stay relevant. In the United States, the new TGL golf league, which is interactive, high-tech, and tailored for the screen, is a perfect example of this. Since the end of 2024, its fan base has grown by 17%, and each game in its first season attracted an average of 513,000 viewers on ESPN channels, more than college basketball at the same time last year, according to Nielsen. Designed to appeal to young people, the formula appears to be working, since 32% of viewers aged 18 to 34 were not regular PGA Tour viewers. This demonstrates that innovation in formats can revitalize traditional sports... and open them up to new audiences that have previously been largely untapped. – AFP Relaxnews
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Scottie Scheffler tied for Travelers lead after chasing a 59
AFTER denying that TPC River Highlands is too easy, Scottie Scheffler was on pace for a round of 59 there Thursday in the opening round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn. Instead, the World No. 1 and defending champion carded an 8-under-par 62, tying Austin Eckroat for the 18-hole lead. At the US$20 million signature event, the last of the regular season, Scheffler and Eckroat are two shots ahead of Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Wyndham Clark and 2023 Travelers champion Keegan Bradley (6-under 64). Scheffler was 9 under par through 15 holes at the par-70 course but settled for par at No. 16 and made his only bogey of the day at No. 17 after overshooting the green. Scheffler, who shot 59 once before in his PGA Tour career (2020 Northern Trust), said the potential milestone didn't enter his mind. "When I came out to do my warmup it was still pretty calm. By the time I got to the first tee, it was blowing 20 miles an hour and it was sustained at that for most of our round," Scheffler said of the conditions. "It maybe went down to 10, to 12 and then it would gust to 30. It was pretty challenging out there." The low round came one day after Scheffler said he didn't believe TPC River Highlands was too easy for tour professionals. The winning scores the past two years have been 23 and 22 under par. "I've always had a preference for the tougher tests that we have," he added Thursday. "That's always been my preference since I was a young kid. I like the challenge of playing difficult golf courses, and I like the challenge of playing against really good fields, as well." Earlier in the day, Eckroat put up a bogey-free 62 highlighted by an eagle-birdie-birdie stretch at Nos. 13-15. The eagle came on a 35 1/2-foot putt. The 26-year-old won twice on tour last year but is struggling this season, as he ranks outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup race. "It's funny, a lot of Wednesdays I've felt really good going into the tournament and then Thursday comes around and it hasn't been there," Eckroat said. "I don't know if it's just the stress of playing in a PGA Tour event, but this one, it was nice to feel good on Wednesday and then actually take it into Thursday." McIlroy continued his upward trajectory after missing the cut at the RBC Canadian Open and tying for 19th at the US Open. He made three birdies on each nine while keeping a bogey-free card. McIlroy played alongside Bradley, the US captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup. "There was definitely a lot more 'Captain America' and 'USA' chants out there, which is cool," the European star said. "It's cool for Keegan to be here, be the US Ryder Cup captain and obviously get all that support." Cameron Young is alone in sixth at 5-under 65, and a large tie at 4-under 66 included Norway's Viktor Hovland, England's Tommy Fleetwood and Australia's Jason Day. J.J. Spaun, playing alongside Scheffler after winning his first major title at the U.S. Open on Sunday, struggled to a 3-over 73. There is no 36-hole cut at the tournament. Jordan Spieth withdrew due to a neck/upper back injury that began to bother him on the practice range. Spieth said it was the first time he'd ever dropped out of a tournament early, on the PGA Tour or otherwise. "I've never withdrawn from an event ever, anywhere, at any level, so I didn't really know what to do," said Spieth, who was 5 over through 12 holes. "It just became too much. I didn't see it turning around until probably Saturday. These things kind of last an extra day, and no matter what I was going to do, it was just going to be – I don't know, it's unfortunate. I've been doing everything right, and I think it was just very random." — REUTERS
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Alcaraz overcomes Munar marathon to reach Queen's quarters
LONDON: Top seed Carlos Alcaraz was pushed all the way by fellow-Spaniard Jaume Munar in a thrilling contest before clinching a 6-4 6-7(7) 7-5 win and advanced to the Queen's Club Championships quarter-finals on Thursday. Alcaraz recently came out on top in an epic French Open final against Jannik Sinner, and while this second round clash in London may not have reached those same dizzying heights, the British crowd were served up an enthralling battle. The world number two was a break down in the deciding set but showed his strength once more as Alcaraz stretched his winning run to 15 matches, the longest streak of his career. "It was a really tough battle that we had today," Alcaraz said after more than three hours on court. "He's a great competitor and he showed how difficult it is to beat him." Alcaraz, the 2023 champion, looked well in control as he eased to take the opening set, and after saving four break and set points at 5-4 down in the second he forced Munar to a tiebreaker. The pair traded early breaks with neither player holding serve over the first four points, before a Munar double fault allowed Alcaraz to take a 5-4 lead. He smashed an ace but then hit a double fault of his own on match point. Munar made him pay this time to force a deciding set. After Alcaraz went 2-0 up, the French Open champion was broken in his next two service games and Munar went into a 4-2 lead. Alcaraz, however, was not done yet, and two more breaks of serve sealed a hard-earned victory as he continued his preparations for Wimbledon, where the Spaniard will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of triumphs. "I'm proud of the level I showed today. It's my second match on grass this year," Alcaraz said. "There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically. I still don't know how I'm standing here. But I'm really happy I've given myself another chance in the quarter-finals." Alcaraz will face French lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech after his 7-5 7-6(3) win over American Reilly Opelka. Rinderknech has lost both previous meetings with Alcaraz, the last loss coming at Queen's in 2023. FEARNLEY ADVANCES British number two Jacob Fearnley reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final with a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet. "I'm very happy to be in my first quarter-final, it's even better to do it here in the UK," Fearnley said. "I tried to stick to my game plan and be aggressive. I did that better in the third set and the result speaks for itself." Fearnley raced into a 3-0 lead, and while Moutet broke back, the Briton responded immediately with another break of his own to ease through the first set. Moutet did likewise in the second, sailing 3-0 ahead before breaking for a second time to clinch the set and force the decider, where Fearnley broke twice before holding serve to love to clinch victory in style. The 23-year-old will now face Jiri Lehecka after the Czech beat Canada's Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-2. — AFP
