Streaming services have revolutionised the way football fans watch the NFL in recent years.
The availability of these services has meant viewers can enjoy new ways to watch the game, especially the Super Bowl and all the festivities that come with the global event. According to figures, Super Bowl LIX in 2024 managed to attract a total of 127.7 million people, with many reportedly watching on digital properties and streaming services.
But why have streaming services and platforms become the norm for users compared to more traditional means for live NFL action?
Personalized Viewing Experiences
As technology continues to develop and innovations are added to viewing experiences, fans want to receive content that is more personalized to them. Streaming services have achieved this in various ways.
Some streams have been able to incorporate new features, including additional data insights. Amazon’s Prime Video stream, for example, can provide fans with real-time data within its platform, enabling them to gain new insights that traditional broadcasters may not always share. Access to these data points has allowed people who wager on football to enjoy new ways to enhance a sports betting experience. By combining their sessions with this guide to smarter NFL bets this season, viewers can use the data made available in the stream to help them make better picks.
It’s not just new data insights that have helped to make viewing experiences more personalized. New options have enabled fans to access various types of content on their platforms, including multi-view features that allow matches to be watched simultaneously, as well as the ability to watch on-demand replays. Some streaming sites may even allow viewers to change the commentary language to their native language, further personalizing the viewing experience, while others may offer alternate commentary teams.
More Options For Fans
In addition to being able to personalize viewing experiences further, streaming platforms have allowed fans to view games without restrictions. Broadcasters may be unable to show a game in a certain area or may be restricted to only show a game within a specific area. This is often done to protect ticket sales and encourage fans to go to stadiums.
Fans can watch games not shown in their local area by using out-of-market streaming packages offered by services like NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV or NFL Game Pass, which is available internationally. These packages offer access to games outside the viewer’s local broadcast region, enabling fans to watch teams and matchups that are otherwise unavailable on local television.
Changing Consumer Viewing Habits
The NFL continues to try to attract younger demographics, as this will help the league grow in the future. As the NFL seeks to attract as many viewers as possible, especially for the Super Bowl and halftime show, the league has endeavored to make the sport more accessible by analyzing consumer behaviors and meeting the trends and demands of viewers.
To achieve this, the league has looked at streaming platforms as younger viewers don’t typically have “traditional” TV methods, such as cable. It can be expensive, whereas streaming services can be a cheaper alternative and offer viewers just as much (if not more) in terms of content. By integrating games onto these platforms, the NFL has ensured it can reach as many people as possible.
Streaming platforms align with the emerging “watch anytime” culture that is currently prevalent. Even if games are not viewed live, fans can go back and watch the stream after it has been broadcast, something they cannot do with traditional methods. This allows the NFL to remain relevant to viewers at all times, even once the event has taken place. The longer it remains available, the more people can view it and potentially share it with other friends.
Convenience and Device Flexibility
The previous point regarding the “watch anytime” culture that is being experienced fits in with the idea that streaming platforms offer convenience and device flexibility. Younger audiences have turned away from conventional broadcasts. They no longer use traditional TV methods to watch content.
By using streaming platforms, the NFL has made its product more accessible to younger audiences. Fans can watch games on a range of different devices. These can include their smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, or even computers. They no longer need to be in a specific place to watch the game or the halftime show; they can enjoy it wherever they are comfortable doing so or are located at that specific time.
With everyone’s lives getting busier than ever, finding time to sit down and watch a game on a Thursday/Monday night, or on Sunday, can be difficult due to various commitments. Streaming platforms help to make it just that little bit easier.
Streaming Will Continue To Change The Game
Streaming platforms are the present, and they will be the future. Younger audiences no longer watch TV in the same way as previous generations, with many opting to watch sports and other events at their convenience, rather than being confined to live broadcasts of a game or halftime show.
At the same time, streaming platforms provide users with the ability to engage further, helping to create further personalized experiences. As long as the NFL continues to incorporate these demands and adjust to changing behaviors, streaming platforms will be the future of the game.
