Wanna know how you can adapt in kind? Read on!
From the NBA to the NFL and beyond, more rights owners are attempting to create direct-to-fan relationships. These rights owners have what few other media players have: control over live events that can still attract fans. The ability to attract live viewership also means an ability to monetize.
However, if rights owners are going to monetize successfully today, they need to know what’s coming down the pike.
What’s coming is change with a capital “C,” apparently.
Younger Generations are Increasingly Interested in Short Form Content
A recent industry survey by Altman Solon found that 65% of sports executives fear that live sports are losing relevance due to an increasing number of young fans choosing short-form and on-demand content over live game viewership. Those young fans value convenience and quick knowledge of results. Providers now face a big problem: they are losing share to the TikToks of the world, effectively lowering their total addressable market.
That’s not the only challenge facing these sports content providers, but we’ll get to those in a minute.
Rights Fragmentation is Eroding Total Viewership
The current level of disaggregation makes it difficult for fans to watch complete seasons, even if there is interest, per these and other recent findings. In fact, two thirds of surveyed fans noted they struggled to access games. Fans cited issues including the lack of a correct subscription and difficulty in determining the streaming location.
The Future Requires a New Type of Fan Relationship
To thrive in this evolving landscape, sports streamers must fundamentally reimagine fan relationships. The solutions and strategies are more complex than simply offering content – these will require the creation of comprehensive entertainment ecosystems that meet fans where they are.
Invest in Strategic Bundles at Multiple Pricing Tiers
Success in this new era demands strategic bundling that solves current pain points while opening new revenue streams. Sports providers should prioritize developing one-stop solutions through carefully curated partnerships, offering tiered subscription options that cater to different fan segments and budgets.
The most effective bundles will transcend traditional streaming to create immersive fan experiences. Premium tiers can combine exclusive content with tangible benefits like merchandise discounts, sports betting, priority ticket access, and virtual experiences. As attention spans continue to shift and younger fans seek more interactive engagement, these bundles must evolve to include diverse content formats and participation opportunities.
For organizations seeking to navigate this transformation, the subscription management and monetization solutions of Evergent provide the technological foundation to build and monetize these next-generation fan experiences. Solutions such as our Evergent Monetization Platform enables the flexible bundling and creative monetization strategies needed to capture and retain tomorrow's sports fans.
The future of sports viewing isn't just about content delivery – it's about creating deeper, more meaningful relationships with fans through innovative, integrated experiences. Those who adapt now will be best positioned to thrive in this new era of sports entertainment.
Interested in what Evergent can do to help you prepare for this changing live sports viewing experience? Request a demo with our team and let’s talk.
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