08/12/2025
๐๐ก๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ.๐๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ: ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐:๐ โฝ
At TheSports, weโve just completed our Sports Fan Engagement, Content Monetisation & AI Trends Survey 2026.
Here are the highlights weโre sharing with our community:
a. ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐
- 81% of sports media organisations increased their use of AI in the past year.
- Main applications: content automation, translation/localisation, personalisation.
- Benefits already realised: 69% report time savings, 46% cost savings, 37% higher content volume, 35% improved quality.
b. ๐
๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐
-Owned websites are declining (projected -20% over five years).
- Owned apps and social video platforms (YouTube, TikTok) are becoming the primary gateways to fans.
- Short-form video drives audience growth and engagement; long-form video is most effective for monetisation.
- Interactive content (polls, live stats overlays, multi-angle video) is crucial for Gen Z and Millennials.
c. ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ
- Gamification (fantasy, mini-matches, predictions, quizzes) is a major revenue opportunity; 40% are exploring it.
- VIP fan experiences are expected to outpace ticketing and merchandise as key revenue streams.
- Sponsors demand more digital content, but authenticity and differentiation remain the biggest challenges.
- Growth in international sponsorships and womenโs sports sponsorships.
d. ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ & ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐
- 70% of broadcast/streaming organisations prioritise increasing advertising revenue.
- Sponsorship, advertising, subscriptions, and affiliate revenue (betting/fantasy) are all growing in importance.
e. ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐
-Personalisation will join automation as a leading AI use case.
- The challenge: balance automation with authenticity, ensuring trust and emotional connection with fans.
- Winning future fans requires immediacy, interactivity, and authenticity, especially in pre-match and in-match stages.
๐ฏSummary
- AI has moved from optional to essential, powering efficiency and scale in sports media.
- Fan engagement is shifting to mobile apps and social video, with short-form content at the core.
- Revenue diversification is accelerating through gamification, VIP experiences, and digital sponsorships.
- Trust and authenticity remain critical as automation expands.
At TheSports, weโre committed to helping partners and fans navigate this transformation โ and to shaping the future of sports industry together:
thesports.com/pricing