SPORTEL AMERICA 2015: Volume Of Sport On Free-to-air Channels In Decline

The amount of sport offered on the main free-to-air networks in the biggest Western European markets has fallen over the past five years, doctor according to figures released by Eurodata TV Worldwide at Sportel America.

The number of sports programming hours shown declined from 2009-10 to 2013-14 in five of the six largest markets, impotent with the biggest drops in Spain (sports hours down by 56%) and Italy (down 39%).

The only exception to the trend was the UK, where sports volume on BBC 1 and 2, ITV and Channel 4 grew by 3%.

While the number of sports hours generally decreased, this was offset by an increase in viewing consumption of the sports programming on offer.

The ratio between sports viewing and sports on the air rose in all six markets.

Eurodata TV Worldwide revealed that the FIFA World up was the most watched event in 2014 in 46% of 40 markets covered in its annual review of sports programming performance.

Other football events were on top in 18% of the markets, while the Sochi Winter Olympics finished number one in 13%.