Gracenote, the content data business unit of Nielsen, has found that sports programme offerings across the top five SVOD services jumped 52% year-over-year.
This sharp increase, identified in the latest Gracenote Data Hub update, underscores the importance of sports content (live games and related content) to providers’ audience engagement strategies, the company stated.
The research also found that over the past year, Paramount+ has vaulted past Amazon Prime Video and Netflix to lead in streaming sports programming at the individual game and event level. Following its acquisition of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) broadcast rights from ESPN starting in January 2026, the service now delivers more than twice the sports content of any subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) platform, up 219% year-over-year. During the same period, the Disney+ sports catalogue contracted 23%.
In other findings, streaming content growth has extended beyond subscription platforms to no-cost, no-commitment services. Gracenote’s analysis of 2,060 FAST channels available worldwide revealed that sports content on FAST grew 30% year-over-year. With more than 200 dedicated news channels now available, news programming on free ad-supported streaming services increased 58%. Additionally, the number of movies and TV shows available on FAST rose 26% and 24%, respectively, year-over-year.
Broadband subscription growth rebounds to hit 1.6 billion
Global fixed broadband subscribers reached 1.591 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 1.06% on the previous quarter and 4.15% year-on-year, according to research by analysts Point Topic.
Western Europe streaming revenue to hit $75bn by 2031
Western Europe's total streaming revenue is set to rise from $53.3bn in 2026 to $74.9bn by 2031, up 41%, according to 3Vision's Video Markets Tracker forecasts.
Spotify to add AI Persona badges on AI-generated artist profiles
Spotify is to start adding ‘AI Persona’ badges on some artist profiles from September 2026 to give listeners more transparency about whether the artist behind the music was a real person.
Disney+ strikes broadcasting deal with Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast
Disney+ has signed a one-year agreement to broadcast The Overlap network's Stick to Football podcast and a new show, named Stick to United with Wayne Rooney.
Paramount says Warner Bros Discovery deal has secured global regulatory approval
Paramount Skydance Corporation has claimed it secured regulatory clearance for its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery in all countries that have investigated the deal.
.jpg)
