Disney’s standalone sports-streaming service is the No. 1 such platform among U.S. internet households, according to new data from Parks Associates. The platform (19%) topped NFL+ (10%), according to an online survey of 8,000 respondents.
The report found that 33% of U.S. internet households subscribe to a D2C (direct-to-consumer) sports service. Meanwhile, 43% of households personally watch live sports from any source. And 70% of sports viewers, ages 18-24, watch at least one live game or match per week, compared to more than 87% of those ages 55 and older.
“As more games move to streaming platforms, the traditional sports viewer, or ‘sports traditionalist,’ who watches only via broadcast or pay TV, is becoming a smaller segment of the overall audience,” Jennifer Kent, VP of research at Parks, said in a statement. “By Q3 2024, only 8% of consumers in internet households were ‘sports traditionalists,’ with an additional 13% using both traditional outlets and streaming services to watch sports.”
The NBA has the most satisfied subscribers among D2C streaming sports services, while two-thirds of streaming sports service subscribers maintained their subscription after the season ended. Of those who cancelled, more than half said they were very likely to re-subscribe, according to Parks.
From the article, "Parks Says ESPN+ No. 1 Sports Streaming Service Among U.S. Internet Households" by Erik Gruenwedel
