Forecast: Sports media rights to reach $61bn in 2024
February 7, 2024
At a time when marketers are increasingly reliant on sport for mass reach, the sector faces fragmentation. Live sports rights are splintering between broadcast, OTT and mobile apps, while social platforms are rising in importance for fans. Sports media in the era of fragmentation, WARC Media’s latest Global Advertising Trends report, examines sport’s new media landscape, the challenges and opportunities for brand advertisers and how rights holders plan to sustain the economics of sport in the years ahead.
Alex Brownsell, Head of Content, WARC Media, commented: “Sport is one of the last providers of true ‘water cooler moments’, and this year’s bumper schedule of major sporting events, such as the summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, the UEFA European Football Championships, and the T20 Cricket World Cup, will provide advertisers with unrivalled means to achieve mass reach. However, these enduring qualities are under threat as consumption fragments. In this report we take a closer look at the current state of sport advertising at a time when media consumption poses a dilemma for brand advertisers.”
Key insights highlighted in WARC’s Sports media in the era of fragmentation are:
- Major live sport moments still deliver mass audience reach
Over 115 million viewers tuned in across Fox properties to watch Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII last year making it the most watched US telecast of all time.
- TV firms are spending ever greater sums for sports rights
Global spending on sports media rights is forecast to reach $60.9 billion (€56.5bn) in 2024, per SportsBusiness data, up 18.9 per cent on pre pandemic levels, with traditional broadcasters digging deeper to retain access to prime sports assets.
- 2024 will be a major year for live sport, as the Olympics returns
Broadcasters and streamers will be buoyed by the return of blue chip sports competitions this year, including the Paris 2024 Summer Games, UEFA Euro 2024, and the T20 Cricket World Cup.
- However, sport will not reverse declines in linear TV ad spend
In the UK, spend with linear TV is forecast to remain in decline (-1.6 per cent) throughout the summer of 2024, according to WARC Media data. A similar picture emerges in Germany (-0.6 per cent), which will host Euro 2024, although France bucks the trend (+4.9 per cent). In the US, a recovery of linear TV spend (+6.3 per cent) will owe more to favourable year-on-year comparisons and the upcoming US Presidential election than to sport.
- Fragmentation of sports rights threatens mass reach moment
NFL coverage spans broadcast and cable TV (NBC, ESPN) as well as OTT (Peacock, Prime Video, YouTube TV) and mobile app (NFL+). It is becoming costlier and more complex for fans to follow all live games.
- Social media is taking centre stage as a sports channel
93 per cent of 18-24s engage with sport on social media at least weekly. However, Gen Z fandom is more ‘fluid’. Younger cohorts are often more interested in athletes’ stories, rather than teams or competitions.
- Streamers are tapping into a passion for sports stories
Amazon and Netflix are beginning to acquire live sports rights. However, they are also capitalising on a desire for behind the scenes storytelling, with documentary series such as Netflix’s F1: Drive to Survive.
- Advertising remains a key part of the Super Bowl experience
Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of those planning to watch Super Bowl LVIII on February 11th intend to watch the commercials. Last year’s broadcast earned Fox an estimated $650 million in gross ad revenue, with brands spending up to $7 milliom for a 30 second spot.
Adrian Sutherland, Vice President, Publicis Sports, added: “Sports is the one constant within media plans. Live sport is getting the eyeballs and sport content is getting the engagement. However, in some sports, local fans may need at least three separate subscriptions to watch a full season of games. It is imperative platforms keep a strong content plan in place to keep consumers engaged.”