ESPN's Flora Kelly discusses the rise of women's college basketball viewership, the impact of social media on sports engagement, and the evolving landscape of sports fandom. They also talk about the influence of female athletes on women's sports fandom, the shift in sports consumption habits, and the opportunities to attract female fans to sports betting.
The importance of understanding evolving fan behavior and industry trends through data-driven insights to drive strategic growth opportunities at ESPN.
Younger fans' intersectional approach to sports fandom and the significant growth potential of women's college basketball in expanding its fan base and engagement.
Deep dives
Flora Kelly's Role at ESPN
Flora Kelly, the Vice President of Brand Strategy and Content Research at ESPN, plays a vital role in analyzing metrics like viewership and social media data to develop strategic insights for the organization. Her team acts as the 'headlights' of ESPN, guiding business decisions through their research into sports culture and fandom. Kelly describes her role as a social scientist, focusing on ratings, digital analytics, and consumer research to provide valuable insights that drive ESPN's connection with audiences.
Trends in Fan Engagement
Younger fans exhibit an intersectional approach to sports fandom, integrating it with their other interests and utilizing social media platforms for engagement. ESPN's proactive presence on platforms like TikTok underscores the importance of reaching fans where they are to enhance brand relevance and drive event participation. Notable shifts include the heightened attention to women's college basketball, college football, and NFL, showcasing the impact of social media in amplifying cultural moments and driving audience engagement.
Impact of Insightful Data Analysis
Kelly and her team provide data-driven insights and reports to ESPN's executives, who actively engage with the findings to navigate evolving fan behavior and industry trends. The focus on constant metric monitoring and in-depth analysis aids in understanding the whys behind viewership patterns, facilitating informed decision-making to steer the organization towards strategic growth opportunities. The pivotal role of data in shaping ESPN's approach to content and engagement underscores the importance of research and analytics in today's media landscape.
Women's College Basketball and Future Potential
Kelly highlights women's college basketball as a significant area for growth due to its expanding fan base, with 60% of fans indicating support for less than five years. This evolving fandom presents opportunities for further development and engagement, positioning women's college basketball as a sport with substantial future potential. The sport's current trajectory suggests a promising outlook for increased viewership and fan involvement, making it an area to watch for significant growth in the years ahead.
Episode 388 features ESPN Vice President of Brand Strategy and Content Research Flora Kelly. In this podcast, Kelly explains her role at ESPN and how that informs the company; how her research team works; the macro trends she is seeing in sports in 2024; why college sports is continuing to soar; the incredible numbers for women’s college basketball; how young fans process sports; the enduring power of the NFL; how ESPN looks at gambling data, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and more.