Photo: Montreal Gazzette
A recent study conducted by Street & Smiths Sports Business Journal found that the age of hockey television viewers has increased significantly over the past 15 years. In fact, according to the study, all but one sport has seen the median age of their TV viewers increase sharply over the past decade.
The study, conducted by the Magna Group exclusively for the Sports Business Journal, tracked regular-season game coverage of major sports across both broadcast and cable television in 2000, 2006, and 2016.
“There is an increased interest in short-term things, like stats and quick highlights,” said Brian Hughes, senior vice president of audience intelligence and strategy at Magna Global USA. “That availability of information has naturally funneled some younger viewers away from TV.”
The study emphasizes “the challenges facing leagues as they try to attract a younger audience and ensure long-term viability and they reflect the changes in consumption patterns as young people shift their attention to digital platforms.”
KEY FINDINGS:
- Median NHL viewer went from 33 to 49 years of age from 2000 to 2016. That’s more than a 36% increase over that time period.
- Sports viewers are aging faster than the rate of the overall U.S. population.
- Only 8% of NHL fans are under 18.
You can read Sports Business Journal’s story here.
From Magna Global
By Jon Sorensen
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