-->
Save your FREE seat for Streaming Media Connect in November. Register Now!

Live Sports Lures Cord-Cutters Back to Pay TV, Finds Study

Article Featured Image

What can make a cord-cutter reconnect? Access to live sports broadcasts. According to a study commissioned by the sports network One World Sports and created by Frank N. Magid Associates, 39 percent of U.S. consumers who stopped their pay TV service within the last two years but are interested in restarting say that sports channels are one reason to do so. The leading reason to return is access to current TV shows.

The study found that over a third of sports fans have discovered the benefits of streaming: 37 percent watch online sports streams often, while 57 percent stream sports at some time. These fans prefer watching on larger screens, as 37 percent watch on computers, 26 percent with a set-top box or connected TV, 25 percent to tablets, and 25 percent to smartphones.

For One World Sports, the results speak to the value of live sports on any type of network.

“Sports remains the most DVR-proof form of video content,” said Alexander “Sandy” Brown, president and CEO of One World Sports. "Digital video providers, whether they’re targeting their services for OTT delivery or mobile devices, are actively seeking sports content to feed their new services and attract consumers.”

The survey questioned 2,883 U.S. adults with pay TV subscriptions and 317 who have broadband but no pay TV. The full study isn't available online.

Streaming Covers
Free
for qualified subscribers
Subscribe Now Current Issue Past Issues
Related Articles

87% of Cord-Cutters Cite High Price of Pay TV as Chief Reason

In an eye-opening survey, TiVo finds that viewers are more price-conscious than ever, and 82 percent would like an a la carte option.

Whistle Sports Says Focus on the Story, Avoid Clickbait: Video

You won't believe this one weird trick that Brian Selander of Whistle Sports revealed at Streaming Media East about connecting with over-the-top audiences.

For the Win! Live Sports Are Driving Streaming Video Innovation

The desire to keep sports relevant to the younger audience and connect with mobile media consumption habits is driving innovation online.

Pay TV Cord-Cutting to Decline, Shows TDG's Q3 Research

Could cord-cutting have reached a saturation point, with most homes unwilling to part with cable or satellite? A half-year survey suggests a trend.

Sports Fans in No Hurry to Cut the Cord, Finds Clearleap Survey

Will cable survive now that Sling TV offers ESPN streaming? A survey suggests that sports viewers are happy to stick with what they have.

NAB 2015: How Sports and Gaming are Driving Live Streaming

Millennials watching eSports, travelers watching their favorite teams on the road, and sports fans who can't get the content they want anywhere else are driving 82% of live online video ad views, and publishers and advertisers are reaping the benefits.

CES Report: Let Sports Inspire Online Entertainment, Says NeuLion

Sports fans benefit when they can control the feed, choosing whatever angle they prefer at any time. Could the same approach work for scripted content?

Clearleap Introduces Sports Solution for Multiplatform Delivery

A cloud-based solution targets the biggest sporting events, promising to stream them to all viewers with only a few seconds delay.

Streaming Forum Keynote Preview: Multiscreen BT Sport Delivery—One Year On

BT's Jérôme Tassel will share a look behind the scenes at the launch of BT Sport as well as the launch of YouView and the evolution of BT's TV services in the 2014 Streaming Forum opening keynote