The global leader in sports intelligence & measurement empowering businesses around the ๐ to better engage with audiences via
@Nielsen
+
@GracenoteLive
Athletes are taking their talents to the worldwide web as sports continue to be postponed due to
#COVID19
. ๐
During the week of April 2 โ April 8, the
#WWE
Superstars dominated social engagement online,
with
@WWE_MandyRose
&
@SashaBanksWWE
taking the top 2 spots. ๐ช
@joonlee
@MLBTheShow
@Twitch
An interesting metric we found:
@MLB
is the only North American sports league that increased fan engagement across all social platforms due to the
#COVID19
pandemic.
The top social athlete remains Notorious. ๐
From 5/11 to 5/17,
@TheNotoriousMMA
kept his title as the most engaged sports star online, while other
@ufc
fighters &
@wsl
's
@gabriel1medina
cracked the Top 10. ๐โโ๏ธ
Subscribe for more social rankings: ๐
NEW: Our list of the Worldโs 50 Most Marketable athletes is now available. ๐ ๐
Get our complete
@SportsPro
analysis of over 6,000 athletes from 21 sports and learn which superstars and leagues are driving the evolution of sports culture and media.
๐
Sports fandom is accelerating rapidly, and we're continuing to measure, analyze, and report on audiences worldwide. ๐
We're excited to announce the expansion of our Fan Insights platform, growing from 12 to 26 international markets! ๐
Learn more: ๐
Broadcasters, here's a free throw to win back viewership: Televise women's sporting leagues.
Fan interest in the
@WNBA
and
@NWSL
has grown 5% and 6% respectively since February:
Sports leagues across North America are stepping up their games on social media due to
#COVID19
.๐ฒ
Across digital platforms,
@NBA
,
@MLB
,
@NHL
,
@NFL
,
@NASCAR
, and
@MLS
all increased fan engagement by an average of +113% between the weeks of March 19-25 & March 26-April 1. ๐
The sports industry is facing an unprecedented crisis, and it's critical for brands to engage with fans by innovating their entertainment and content online. โฝ๐ฒ๐ฌ
Download our report about The Impact of COVID-19 on the Social Media Landscape:
๐
โSports stars across the globe are raising acceptance levels of gaming & eSports through their own streaming. This represents a great opportunity for the eSports community to engage & retain new fans.โ
Our
@PhelanHill
featured in
@EveningStandard
๐
Sports leagues are continuing to elevate their games across social media due to
#COVID19
. ๐คณ
Between April 2 โ April 8, the
#NBA
earned the most engagements from fans online, followed by the
#WWE
and
#NFL
. ๐๐
With live sports sidelined due to
#COVID19
, leagues like
@NASCAR
are shifting their gears to online virtual experiences. ๐ถ๏ธ ๐๏ธ
eNASCAR's
#ProInvitationalSeries
race on March 22 was the most watched linear
#esports
broadcast in history. ๐
Full insights:
Football star Son Heung-Min is kicking off
@SpursOfficial
fandom worldwide.
According to our data, over 11 million South Koreans consider Tottenham their favorite overseas football team. ๐ฐ๐ท
That's more Spurs fans than there are in the U.K.
Our insights:
Esports are here to stay ๐ฅ
Listen to the first episode of the Esports Economics Podcast Series, featuring
@nielsen
and
@riotgames
, on the current state of the industry and future growth opportunities ๐
a collaboration with
@RichardGillis1
With sports on hold indefinitely due to
#COVID19
, leagues like the
@NBA
are delivering content to fans online. ๐๐คณ
For the week of March 26 to April 1,
#NBA
accounts saw the most social media engagement from consumers, despite the
#NFL
creating more posts across platforms. ๐
Esports are an effective way to connect with new and younger audiences as in-person events remain on hold. ๐น๏ธ
Our new report explores the growing role of esports and competitive gaming within the sports sponsorship market:
Pro-gambling legislation is gaining momentum across the U.S.โ and the opportunity for brands, TV networks and sports fans is limitless. ๐ฒ
Our new insights explore and identify key opportunities for growth in the billion-dollar sports betting industry:
Between 2015 and 2019, sponsorship spend of Chinese-based brands rose at a compound annual growth rate of 9%. ๐จ๐ณ ๐
Download our new report on global sports marketing trends:
#TheLastDance
has started the running of Bulls fans across social media. ๐คณ
For the week of 4/16 โ 4/22, the
@chicagobulls
were the
#1
most social team ranked on engagements across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ๐ฌ
#GenZ
has high expectations for individuals in sports & entertainment, and itโs ๐for marketers to leverage the power of athlete ambassadors to connect with young fans.
Download our report on the next wave of sports consumers ๐โฝ๏ธ๐๏ธโฌ๏ธ
Viewership for
@LaLiga
is skyrocketing worldwide. โฝ ๐
According to our data:
๐ฟ๐ฆ South Africa +210%
๐ง๐ช Belgium +130%
๐ฎ๐ณ India +72%
๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark +46%
Full breakdown via
@ReutersSports
: ๐
We're delighted to be attending this year's 2020 ESA Awards Ceremony after being shortlisted for Agency of the year (pan-Europe). The awards ceremony will take place this coming Wednesday and we look forward to attending alongside other notable finalists.
Home field advantage? Think again.
@premierleague
away teams' win percentage has skyrocketed from 30.2% of last year's games with crowds to 40.9% this season without fans present.
@SimonGleave
shares insights on our
@Gracenotetweets
data in
@YahooSports
The fans have spoken. ๐ฃ๏ธ ๐ฌ
Sports should return as soon as itโs safe for athletes, and leagues and teams should support their local communities during COVID-19. โ
Check out the latest trending data from our U.S. Fan Study: Return of Sports. ๐
Virtual and augmented reality are poised to level up their growth in 2021. ๐ถ๏ธ
Last year, 71% of US
#VR
headset owners increased their device usage.
Our Stephanie Llamas (
@XRSteph
) shares her predictions on the virtual gaming landscape via
@_SuperData
With live sports on hold,
@NASCAR
is tuning up
#esports
while drawing over a million viewers, per data from
@nielsen
.๐
More fans will undoubtedly follow as leagues like
@NBA
,
@NFL
& others go virtual. ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ
Here's why brands should pay attention ๐
$3,585,218 โก๏ธ the media value of a sponsored post from Cristiano Ronaldo on average. โฝ
That makes him the most influential footballer on Instagram, according to our InfluencerScope data.
More from
@BBCSport
๐
Logo exposure, sales impact attribution, fan demographics, and brand sponsorship impact.๐
Our Return on Sponsorship Investment (ROSI) solution measures all four to maximize campaigns for analytics-driven sports marketers.
Read more via
@MediaPost
Sports events being televised from empty stadiums requires alternative ad strategies. ๐๏ธ ๐ฃ
Our Managing Director
@jon_stainer
spoke with
@monicroqueta
about our latest solutions helping companies navigate the new sporting industry in
@Adweek
๐
Interactive entertainment is still creating large-scale events that are best enjoyed live.
@FortniteGame
's Astronomical collaboration with
@trvisXX
was a worldwide success for brands, streaming platforms & the gaming world. ๐ฎ
Download our report: ๐
โThe big thing for the sports industry is how they best play in the virtual and digital environment, alongside the live environment where theyโve thrived for years.โ
Our
@jon_stainer
on how leagues and sponsors can win back viewership via
@Beet_TV
:
We're excited to announce Matthew Yazge as our Head of Esports in North America & Lead for
@nielsen
Esports Advisory Board! ๐
Matthew will lead commercial sales, client service, and new partnerships with esports companies.
More via
@esportsinsider
:
We're excited to announce David Faulknor as our SVP for Product Management. ๐
An Emmy Award winner, David will lead our new product offerings to empower leagues and brands with smarter business tools and fan engagement solutions.
Details via
@sbjsbd
๐
Weโre thrilled to introduce Rob Balsom as our Head of Canada. ๐จ๐ฆ
In his new role, Rob will drive new partnerships with Canadian right holders, teams, and brands to maximize their marketing portfolios and opportunities.
Read more in
@sbjsbd
:
This Saturday
@LFC
and
@realmadrid
face off in the
@ChampionsLeague
final โฝ
Ahead of the match we're sharing insights into how media rights deals are shaping the global soccer landscape:
In order to engage with the next generation of sports fans, it's ๐ for athletes, owners, and leagues to understand the media consumption habits and cultural landscape that drive young people to amplify fandom ๐โฝ๏ธ๐
We've got the latest on
#GenZ
โฌ๏ธ
Win or lose, Conor McGregor remains a pivotal character that has transcended an entire sport.
@TheNotoriousMMA
generated 22.7 million online engagements during
#UFC257
and had almost 2x more mentions than
@DustinPoirier
.
Our data featured in
@SportsPro
:
Sports fans in the U.S. are finding comfort with reliving their team's glory days. ๐ผ ๐
According to our latest study with
@DynataGlobal
, 14% of Americans are likely to watch old highlights of their favorite leagues, with
#NFL
and
#MLB
fans being the most nostalgic. ๐
"The involvement of stars can only be a good thing. Weโve seen it happen a lot in the U.S., w/ a number of
@NBA
&
@NFL
stars investing in the sport, along with entertainment stars such as Drake." Our Senior Consultant
@PhelanHill
on
#ESports
via
@Forbes
Brands have an opportunity to prove their sponsorshipโs contribution to sales both in the short and longer term.
Download our report on global sports marketing trends:
The
#Olympics
elevate the premise that gender equality is possible in sports. ๐
For brands, rights holders, and media, this two week competition creates unmatched opportunities to advance womenโs parity and engage new fans worldwide. ๐
Events like
@NASCAR
's
@iRacing
#ProInvitationalSeries
continue to amass high viewership as leagues go virtual in response to
#COVID19
.
Coverage from Texas Motor Speedway on 3/29 earned 1.3 million viewers, surpassing last week's as the most viewed linear esports event ever.๐๐
The
@MLB
's recent decision to move the
#AllStarGame
highlights how rights holders, brands and athletes are taking a stand on social and political issues. โ
Read our new analysis:
Our Video Game Tracking is now live in Spain and Japan! ๐น๏ธ ๐ช๐ธ ๐ฏ๐ต
Get our exclusive consumer analysis from our state-of-the-art monitoring solution that measures the mindshare of players across the international gaming market. ๐
๐
@netflix
's Formula 1: Drive to Survive docuseries created 360,000 new fans of
@F1
ahead of the Miami Grand Prix this weekend. ๐๏ธ
How is this series transforming viewers into sports fans? Find out:
For women down under, it's all about love (for tennis). ๐พ ๐ฆ๐บ
โWith the
#AusOpen
tournament getting underway, marketers seeking to up their games with females would be well served to take note of this fact.โ
โ Our Managing Director, Marco Nazzari.
We predict record-high viewership of this year's
#BritishGP
.
One-third of the UK population and more than two-thirds of Formula 1 fans plan to watch
@F1
, driven by a post-lockdown thirst for live action.
More from our
@andrew_milnes
via
@SportsPro
:
Why is Gen Z is challenging the notion of the 'Hard-core' sports fan? Find out in this first extract from Nielsen Sports' Commercial Trends. Learn more about the ever-changing sponsorship landscape and the impact these trends will have on your business.
How can brands reach e-sports consumers worldwide?
Virtual tournaments & gaming competitions this summer are poised for major growth. ๐ฎ
Learn more about our strategies for in-game advertising through our collaboration with
@riotgames
via
@tylertreese
๐
It's official: our Hardware Tracking solution is now covering all 9th generation consoles including
#PS5
and
#XboxSeriesX
.
Learn how this premier perception tool is leveling up advanced consumer insights to brands, publishers, and console makers:
When will sports fans return to live events post COVID-19?
Our latest insights report with
@DynataGlobal
takes a look at which time periods U.S. audiences will feel comfortable with after games are back in season.๐
With live sports on hold, content from sport stars is becoming the best way to engage with todayโs digital-savvy generation.๐คณ
Our Managing Director
@kelvin_watt
examines the opportunities for brands across social media from athlete influencers. โน๏ธ๐
๐
Fresh off of the Beijing Olympics and Super Bowl we're sharing insights into how sports can strengthen marketing campaigns this year. ๐คธ
Weโll give you a hint: fans are changing the game.
From back-to-back weeks, the
#WWE
had the highest increase in posts (51%) and highest increase in number of fan engagements (108%). ๐๐คณ
@WWE
fans amplified their league's social interactions across online platforms, coming off of a strong buzz from
#WrestleMania
Weekend. ๐คผ
โShow me the money!" ๐ฐ
That's the focus of a huge revenue stream for televised live sports. ๐
Tune in tomorrow as our
@jon_stainer
unveils key trends driving the changing value of sports sponsorship:
#NATPE
@NATPE
Sports leagues worldwide are embracing virtual events to keep fans engaged. ๐
Our report examines data from the highly successful
@EASPORTSFIFA
@LaLigaEN
tournament. ๐ฎ โฝ ๐ช๐ธ
Download for free๐
Sports leagues and teams are becoming more active on social media due to postponements from
#COVID19
.
During the week of March 26-April 1, the
@NBA
dominated fan engagement, w/ the
@Lakers
' Instagram post commemorating
@kobebryant
&
@paugasol
generating the highest interaction.
Teaming up with the
@premierleague
is a sure bet. โฝ
According to our data, partners for the English football association can receive up to โฌ2M in global value per match.
Our latest analysis explores the branding opportunities across media platforms.๐
Consumers are immersing themselves in virtual reality worlds as in-person activities remain limited due to COVID-19. ๐
How can we enable brands to better reach audiences in digital gatherings?
Cast your vote for our
#SXSW
panel featuring
@carterrog
:
We're thrilled to be a partner for this year's
#LeadersWeek
hosted by
@LeadersBiz
!
Tune in tomorrow at 2:30PM BST / 9:30AM EST as our experts detail new trends for brand investments in sports and the changing value of sponsorship.
Register to watch:
This weekend the
#FinalFour
games will be played and the two winners will head to the
#NCAA
championship. ๐
Ahead of the games, we're looking at what the Nielsen Impact Score (NIS) tells us about the teams.
How can brands shift their sponsorship strategies?
โWithout fans in the stadiums, the opportunity for traditional revenue streams is no longer present. But new opportunities are also available without them.โ
Our
@jon_stainer
quoted in
@frntofficesport
๐
Home field advantage? Think again.๐๏ธ
According to our data, away teams now hold the edge as the percentage of home wins for
@Bundesliga_EN
has been sliced by more than 50%.
More insights from our Head of Sports Analysis
@SimonGleave
via
@ReutersSports
๐
'Tis the season for digital shopping. ๐น๏ธ ๐
According to our data, total digital game spending globally grew 13% from last year, with U.S. markets alone seeing a 32% spike in sales.
Our
@carterrog
breaks down
@_SuperData
insights for the holiday season:
What next for the
@BarclaysFAWSL
calendar? ๐
โAll the metrics around audiences are increasing. We know the interest is there. The appetite is there and the audience is there.โ โฝ
Our Global Lead for Women's Sport
@LynsD
featured in
@BBCSport
๐
According to our data, global viewership for
@F1
's 2020 Spanish Grand Prix grew 14%, garnering 20.7 million viewers worldwide. ๐๏ธ
More
#SpanishGP
๐ช๐ธ coverage via
@StevenSportsPro
@SportsPro
๐
Our Managing Director of North America
@jon_stainer
spoke with
@Bill_KingSBJ
on the
#SBJUNPACKS
podcast to break down how fans are spending their time and how brands are demonstrating leadership during the
#COVID19
pandemic.
Listen here ๐ง๐:
What does the competitive gaming industry look like after
#COVID19
? ๐ฎ
โMore so than ever,
#esports
is coming to the forefront. Whatโs been interesting is seeing how quickly itโs adapted.โ
โ Our Senior Consultant
@PhelanHill
featured in
@SportsPro
๐
Reaching new fans is a huge gain as tennis stars embrace
#esports
. ๐พ
โKidsโ first engagement is not through watching it on TV. Itโs a different journey, itโs another touch point to get people on the customer journey.โ - Our
@PhelanHill
in
@ReutersSports
The
#NBA
season may still be on hold, but the league continues to reach its fans online.๐
From 5/3 - 5/9, the
@Lakers
led all teams in social engagements, followed by
@chicagobulls
&
@warriors
, while
#NFL
franchises rounded out the Top 10.
Subscribe:
The
#COVID19
pandemic has unexpectedly changed the entire sporting landscape.
Our Senior Vice President Nigel Geach explains in
@iSportconnect
how
@F1
is leading the way on how leagues can engage fans and grow audiences despite lack of live action. ๐๏ธ๐
โConsidering all that MLB is up against this year at the start of its season, from COVID-19 to directly competing with the NHL and NBA playoffs, to getting underway at the heart of summer, these โฆ stats are even more staggering,โ Our exclusive data featured in
@TheAthletic
๐
Major League Baseball TV ratings are up in the first month of the abbreviated 2020 season -- a modest surprise.
More notable? The demographics fueling the rise: women and younger people.
More from
@KaplanSportsBiz
โคต๏ธ
Cricket's
#IPL2020
in the UAE generated significant buzz for fans tuning in virtually worldwide. ๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ
Our analysis explores the digital fandom and media engagement for the series of matches that generated over 70 billion social impressions.
Subscribe:
Acceleration towards fan engagement tools could have a lasting impact on how rights holders distribute and monetize content. ๐
Our Managing Director Spencer Nolan breaks down how broadcasters are adapting to interactive content platforms in
@SportsPro
๐
How much marketing value did the
@KUHoops
#NCAAChampionship
run generate?
302% more than the average college basketball program according to our NIS data. ๐
See how the Nielsen Impact Score measures programs and contributes to their success:
#NCAA
What's next on the horizon for the global sports economy? ๐
Our Managing Director Spencer Nolan spoke with
@DigitalSportUK
's
@RupertPratt
on COVID-19's impact on sport media rights, new ways of fan engagement, and the future of the commercial landscape.
Viewers across Chicago tuned in to catch the epic finale of the Bulls dynasty. ๐บ
Episodes 9 & 10 of
@espn
's
#TheLastDance
were among the most watched of the program's five-week run.
More data featured in
@chicagotribune
via
@phil_rosenthal
๐
โThe sports industry has the unique ability to reach people on an unmatched scale, not just to entertain, but also to inform & motivate action.โ๐
โ Our Managing Director
@jon_stainer
on how can leagues & brands can step up their games during
#COVID19
๐
Thanks to
#Wrestlemania
, the
@WWE
saw the largest week-over-week increase in number of fan engagements (+108%). ๐ช
From April 2 โ April 8, the
#WWE
was the only league to see increases across all social media platforms.
๐คผ ๐
How are brands reaching gaming consumers?
@trvisXX
rocking his iconic Jordans in
@FortniteGame
is estimated to have generated $518K for Nike in monetary value.
Download our latest report on the limitless opportunities from interactive entertainment:
๐
Media coverage of the esports industry is accelerating due to COVID-19 and the subsequent shutdown of more traditional sports. ๐ฎ ๐
Our
@PhelanHill
details how brands can utilize esports to engage with new fans and TV audiences via
@DigitalSportUK
.
Virtual reality is becoming an escape for consumers.
According to our data, 71% of VR headset owners are spending more time using their devices due to COVID-19.
Our
@carterrog
shares how marketers can connect with audiences in digital meet-ups in gaming.
Despite fewer sports programs available, fans still tend to watch more TV than the average viewer. ๐
Channels are airing classic games and โbest ofโ sports moments, while promoting esports, documentaries, and of course, league drafts. ๐๏ธ
More data ๐
Tomorrow! Join our Managing Director
@jon_stainer
at
#LeadersWeek
to learn the latest data from our U.S. fan study with insights on what sports fandom will look like in 2020 and beyond. ๐๏ธ
More info available via
@LeadersBiz
๐
Day 3 of Virtual Olympic Games๐ :
๐จ๐ณ China: 17 medals
๐ฏ๐ต Japan: 13 medals
๐ฐ๐ท South Korea: 12 medals
@adam_peaty
takes home Team Great Britain's 2nd virtual gold medal.
More data via
@GracenoteGold
๐