Superbowl LVIII–or “58” for those not born during the Roman Empire–is over, but the heat from the ads is still baking. Just like last year, we polled everyone at Inspira Marketing to get their takes on which commercials stuck with them and which faded into obscurity.
Ever wonder what really drives consumer choices when it's time to kick back and catch up on TV? Where do they find streaming shows, what keeps them watching, and how do streaming companies and marketers get their attention?
Esports are barreling toward mainstream adoption, if they’re not already there, with professional leagues bringing in millions of fans and over a billion dollars.
According to The NPD Group’s 2020 Gamer Segmentation Report, 244 million Americans play video games. That’s about 3 in 4 people, and an increase of 32 million in total since 2018. And gamers are playing more than ever: Nearly one-third of them play more than 15 hours a week.
As consumers have been relegated to their homes more often than ever in 2020, gaming has seen its popularity continue to rise. In fact, 40% of American respondents to a YouGov survey said they are playing more games in 2020, whether it be on PC, console, or mobile device. On top of the time spent at home, the year has also brought the long-anticipated releases of Playstation Series 5 and Xbox Series X/S — with demand so high that each has faced out-of-stock issues.
For the 56% of consumers who reported missing sports a lot during the pandemic, the return of the NBA, NHL, and MLB has been a welcome change. Fans don't just miss their favorite teams; they also miss the traditions and the escape from day-to-day life. Below, we take a look at how consumers filled their time while sports were postponed, their feelings on the return to action, and their sentiment on returning to stadiums when fans are allowed.
Across the globe, sports fans have been missing out on the action with their favorite teams sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Though restrictions are beginning to loosen and leagues like the NBA and NHL have announced plans to return, the reality is that things are going to be drastically different at first. Seventy-two percent of Americans said that they wouldn’t feel safe attending live events without a coronavirus vaccine, which only further cements the notion that athletes will be playing in front of empty arenas for the foreseeable future.
When the NBA announced the suspension of its season on March 11th after a player tested positive for COVID-19, it set off a chain reaction that no one could have foreseen just months ago. From March Madness and the Masters to the Stanley Cup playoffs and Summer Olympics, sporting activities have come to a screeching halt. While public health and economic concerns remain the most important issues of the COVID-19 crisis, sports have always served as an escape for the millions of Americans who would welcome such a distraction during this time.
Though Netflix and Hulu have long been established household names, you may have noticed that a few competitors have popped up in their midst. Of course, by a few, we mean many. The streaming wars are in full swing in 2020 as 90% of U.S. consumers report watching video content on the internet. Further illustrating the growth of the streaming segment, Nielsen adds that 60% of Americans subscribe to more than one paid video streaming service.
This year, nearly 194 million adults across America are expected to tune in to the Big Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. While consumers have varying degrees of interest in the result of the matchup, Americans are set to spend over $88 per person and over $17 billion in total on this year's event. Here, we take a look at their plans for the game, the reasons they tune in, and what it costs to get in the door at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.