Sports Online Live Video Streaming Market Size, Share, Growth & Industry Analysis, By Product (Football Live Streaming, Basketball Live Streaming, Baseball Live Streaming, Tennis Live Streaming, Cricket Live Streaming, Others), By Application (TV, Mobile Phone, Other) and Regional Analysis, 2023-2030

Sports Online Live Video Streaming Market Size

The global Sports Online Live Video Streaming Market was valued at USD 26.93 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 133.98 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 22.66% from 2023 to 2030.

The surge in the global Internet user base, combined with technological advancements in various sectors, has become the primary driving factor for the growth of online live video streaming in the sports industry. Furthermore, the increasing interest of audiences in various sports events has led to significant expansion of the sports online live video streaming market. The proliferation of smartphones and Internet access in both developed and developing nations has increased the demand for online platforms across various industries.

Moreover, with the proliferation of digital technology, sports streaming services have become widespread and popular all over the globe. The ability to stream live sports events has provided fans with an unprecedented level of access to different types of sports. This trend is expected to continue in the near future as the number of Internet users and smartphone owners continues to grow globally.

When broadcasting a live stream to a wider audience, one of the biggest challenges is finding a suitable time to accommodate viewers across different time zones. To overcome this challenge, businesses are using data analytics to identify and target peak viewing times and to offer on-demand content tailored to viewers situated in different time zones. Additionally, the live stream schedule can be planned beforehand to give viewers enough time to plan their viewing.

One example of time zone-related challenges occurred during live events such as the Academy Awards ceremony. The event was broadcast live from Los Angeles and reached a global audience across various time zones. Hence, viewers in other parts of the world had to tune in at unfavorable hours, which could result in lower engagement and viewership. To mitigate this issue, the Academy implemented a multi-channel approach by offering live and on-demand viewing options to cater to a diverse audience.

Analyst’s Review

The sports media industry is undergoing a significant transformation as traditional television, which was previously a primary source of sports viewing, is losing ground to streaming services such as YouTube TV and Hulu TV. According to Dacast, sports programming accounts for over 40% of all television viewing. A growing number of sports federations and organizers are embracing streaming services to broadcast tournaments, competitions, games, and matches over the Internet, causing a shift in revenue from traditional TV programmers and distributors to digital streaming platforms. The implications of this sports online live video streaming market growth are significant, not only for the sports federations that rely on revenue from broadcasting rights to support their teams and athletes but also for the broader media industry.

Additionally, the growth of online sports streaming platforms has had a considerable impact on the broadcasting industry. For instance, major sports federations such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB have signed agreements with streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video and DAZN in recent years, highlighting the significant shift toward digital streaming from traditional TV broadcasting.

Market Definition

The act of broadcasting live sports events through online platforms is referred to as online live video streaming. Technological advancements in this field have transformed the accessibility of videos with easy availability on tablets, smartphones, televisions, and computers. The Internet has enabled innovative ways to deliver high-quality content, providing better opportunities for publishers and advertisers. Live streaming services record and broadcast in real-time, providing access to user chat rooms. These services cover different topics such as social media, video games, and professional sports, accessible across screens worldwide. Online live video streaming benefits organizations by enabling them to reach audiences of any size, gain social media exposure, and engage with fan bases, ultimately increasing revenue.

Moreover, the advent of online live streaming has brought a revolution in the way sports events are being broadcast. With the use of streaming platforms such as ESPN+ and DAZN, sports fans can now watch live events online in HD quality, while also being able to access archived content on demand. This shift from traditional TV has opened up new revenue streams for sports federations, presenting them with an opportunity to reach a larger audience base.

Market Dynamics

The ever-evolving technological landscape and the growing number of service providers pose a significant challenge to the established players in the video streaming sports online live video streaming market. The rise in streaming television is considered a rapidly growing sector for TV service providers to target in order to capture a substantial revenue share from existing key players such as Netflix.

For instance, in July 2019, AT&T Intellectual Property launched AT&T TV, a new streaming service, for viewers watching TV online. These additional streaming services for television and other entertainment content are likely to impact the established key players in the sports online live video streaming market.

The quality of Internet connectivity is crucial to providing a good user experience in the sports streaming industry. With the advent of high-definition streaming content, the importance of a robust Internet connection has increased manifold. Inadequate Internet speeds lead to buffering, lags in transmission, and poor video quality, leading to a suboptimal viewing experience. This has resulted in slow Internet being considered a major hindrance to the growth of the sports streaming market. To tackle this issue, industry players are investing heavily in improving infrastructure and relying on more efficient encoding and compression technologies to deliver high-quality content over limited bandwidth.

Additionally, a prime example of a slow Internet affecting the user experience in sports streaming is the live streaming of the 2018 World Cup, which encountered issues related to buffering and time delays. This led to a backlash from viewers, who voiced their dissatisfaction on social media platforms. The incident highlighted the importance of Internet connectivity in delivering a seamless and enjoyable viewing experience.

Segmentation Analysis

The global sports online live video streaming market is segmented based on product, application, and geography.

By Product

Based on product, the sports online live video streaming market is categorized into football live streaming, basketball live streaming, baseball live streaming, tennis live streaming, cricket live streaming, and others. The football live-streaming segment dominated the market in 2022, accounting for a share of 29.87%. Football, or soccer, holds the title of the most streamed game worldwide, due to its popularity among global audiences. The sport has the highest number of fans across different regions, which leads to a high demand for live-streaming services. Moreover, football events such as the FIFA World Cup or continental championships such as the UEFA Champions League, have a global reach, which is increasing viewership and expanding the scope of the sport. Additionally, the rise of live streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube has facilitated access to live streams from anywhere in the world, thereby contributing to the growth of the football live streaming market.

By Application

Based on application, the sports online live video streaming market is segmented into TV, mobile phone, and others.  The TV segment dominated the market, generating a significant share of 50.6% in 2022.  It is common to use TV broadcasting standards such as 1080i or 720p for sports streaming due to the high frame rate and clear resolution required for fast-paced action. Such standards provide a high-quality viewing experience, especially in live sports streaming. However, with the rise of streaming platforms, many providers are offering different resolution options to accommodate a wider range of audiences. Additionally, live sports streaming has expanded with the rise of mobile Internet and social media, making high-definition streaming accessible to a vast audience worldwide.

For instance, the 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Qatar and Argentina was live-streamed worldwide, reaching over a billion viewers globally. The match was available to view in multiple languages and resolution options, offering a more inclusive and accessible viewing experience.

Sports Online Live Video Streaming Market Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global sports online live video streaming market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA, and Latin America.

North America accounted for the largest market share of 38.61% in 2022. The region has witnessed a significant surge in the sports online live video streaming market. Major factors, such as the development and improvement of advanced technologies, the increasing penetration of smartphones and Internet connectivity, and the high demand for live streaming services, have contributed to the growth of the sports online live video streaming market in the region. Moreover, the presence of major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL has boosted the demand for live sports streaming in the region.

Competitive Landscape

The global sports online live video streaming market study report will provide valuable insight with an emphasis on the fragmented nature of the industry. Prominent players are focusing on several key business strategies such as partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, product innovations, and joint ventures to expand their product portfolio and increase their market shares across different regions. Expansion & investments are the major strategic initiatives adopted by companies in this sector. Industry players are investing heavily/extensively in R&D activities, building new manufacturing facilities, and supply chain optimization. 

List of Key Companies in Sports Online Live Video Streaming Market

• Stream2watch
• ESPN Enterprises, Inc.
• Philo, Inc.
• DAZN Global
• Sling TV
• Fubo
• FloSports, Inc.
• BoxCast
• DIRECTV, LLC.
• YuppTV USA Inc.

Key Developments

• February 2023 (Investment) - Viacom 18, a major media group, won the bidding war to stream India's most prominent cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL), at a cost of nearly Rs 2,883, million. This marks the first time that Viacom 18 has secured IPL streaming rights while successfully competing against other industry giants such as Disney Hotstar and Amazon Prime. Previously, Disney's Hotstar held the exclusive streaming rights to the IPL for five years.

The global Sports Online Live Video Streaming Market is segmented as:

By Product

• Football Live Streaming
• Basketball Live Streaming
• Baseball Live Streaming
• Tennis Live Streaming
• Cricket Live Streaming
• Others

By Application

• TV
• Mobile Phone
• Other

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • France
  • UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • North Africa
  • South Africa
  • Rest of the Middle East & Africa
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America