Industry experts discuss the future of the sports industry, focusing on trends in content and consumption. They cover the rapid growth of sports property as a media and entertainment business, the success of Formula One and the potential influence of Amazon in sport. They also touch on the changing landscape of Twitter as a platform for sports news, the future of BBC in sports coverage, the European Super League, and the future of cricket.
Content creation is crucial in building fan and commercial relationships, requiring further investment in internal teams to cater to evolving audience needs.
Football organizations need to develop strategies to cater to both the in-depth analysis-seeking UK-based audience and the globally spread audience that seeks human interest stories and experiences in their engagement with the sport.
Deep dives
The future of sports content and consumption
Sports properties are increasingly investing in content creation as sports become more like media and entertainment businesses. The proliferation of short-form content on mobile phones is a growing trend, but many organizations are still figuring out how to navigate this space. Content plays a crucial role in building fan and commercial relationships, particularly in the face of challenges in securing fan loyalty. Going forward, there will be a further investment in internal teams to create more content and cater to the evolving needs of audiences.
The evolving audience in football
Football, especially the Premier League, has two distinct and growing audiences. The first is a UK-based audience seeking in-depth analysis and granular details about their favorite clubs. The second, mainly based in the US but spread worldwide, seeks human interest stories and experiences in their engagement with the sport. Content plays a vital role in cultivating and expanding this global audience, and football organizations need to develop strategies to cater to both segments effectively.
Sport as a community builder
Sport has the potential to serve as a vehicle for community development and influence participation. Content creation and distribution are key factors in building global communities and connecting with fans on a deeper level. Sports properties need to focus on content that resonates with fans around the world, while also considering the importance of local community engagement. The future of sports lies in digital platforms and the development of digital communities that connect fans globally.
The changing role of athletes
Athletes are expected to play an increasingly important role in sports over the next decade. Individual athletes may garner more attention and followers than clubs themselves, with fans showing interest in following athletes across different teams and leagues. However, this shift in fan loyalty raises questions about the authenticity of fan experiences and the challenges of creating a cohesive fan community. Athletes also have greater power to hold rights holders and governing bodies accountable for their actions and decisions.
Recorded at SportsPro Live 2023 to celebrate ten years of our flagship event, we put together a panel to predict what we have in store over the next decade in the sports industry. For this job we asked SportsPro chief executive Nick Meacham, SportsPro editorial director Michael Long and Laura Williamson, deputy editor at The Athletic, to get out their crystal balls. The voice you'll hear first is then SportsPro commercial director Paul Guest.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode