The United Kingdom is a country that is passionate about sports. Millions in the country watch sporting action on a daily basis, as it is used as the main way to unwind after a long day at work or a distraction from other things in their life.
A study shows that sports streaming in the UK started gaining more popularity over the last few years, and while many of thse sports are available with leading broadcasters, many still look to watch live action through other mediums. One of the most common of these is through sportsbooks, who live stream some of the biggest events throughout the year. But what are some of the most frequently streamed sports in the UK?
Football
There will be no surprise to learn that football is the most streamed sport in the UK. Football is the national sport of England, and is responsible for one of the biggest television broadcasting deals in sport. Everyone in the UK supports a team, and regularly attends fixtures annually, but the most popular competition remains the Premier League.
Some of the biggest teams in Europe compete in England’s top division, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. The World Cup is also an extremely well-watched sport event in the UK, with England regularly being among the favourites in betting markets to win the competition.
However, they are yet to win a second World Cup or major tournament since 1966. The European Championship is another international competition that draws in massive streaming figures, while one of the most popular club competitions remains the Champions League.
Cricket
Cricket’s popularity in Europe is relatively small, but the interest in the sport in the United Kingdom certainly makes up for the majority of the continent. The highest streaming numbers are always hit when the national team is playing, with the most followed event being The Ashes, which is contested against Australia every four years.
However, there are many domestic tournaments on the calendar, including the Big Blast, County Championships and The Hundred. The popularity of cricket is still rising, as many young fans are getting drawn into the sport thanks in part due to the shorter forms of the sport becoming more popular and accessible.
However, it is unlikely the sport will ever reach the same level of popularity as football. Still, the sport gains massive numbers in terms of viewing figures, which means that the future of the game is looking as bright as ever.
Rugby
Both forms of rugby are popular in the United Kingdom, but it is extremely rare that fans of one code watch the other. Union is likely the most popular, as international fixtures gain huge streaming numbers. England’s fixtures against Wales, Scotland and Ireland during the Six Nations will be among the most followed of the year, with millions of pubs around the country prioritising the Six Nations over any other action taking place that day.
The Rugby Union World Cup is also a massive attraction for fans of the sport, with all rugby fans waking up in the middle of the night to watch the recent edition of the competition in Japan. However, during the summer months, the attention of rugby fans shifts toward the League action.
League is slightly different in terms of rules from the Union, but it remains exciting to watch once you understand the differences. The most followed competition on the calendar is the Super League, which sees teams from England and France compete during the regular season for a spot in the Grand Final. The World Cup is another hugely popular event, and it always gains attention as England has a leading chance of winning the competition.
Tennis
Tennis competitions are extremely popular throughout the year when it comes to streaming, with the most popular being the big four Grand Slams competed throughout the calendar. The Australian Open is likely the least popular, as matches are played in the middle of the night, while the French Open is slightly more popular despite the limited success that British players have enjoyed in the Grand Slam.
Undeniably, the most popular Grand Slam of the season is Wimbledon. The event ensures the maximum attention of all sporting fans during the two-week period that the competition is staged, as it is played during the height of the summer when there are very few other sports events to stream.
The final Grand Slam of the year is the US Open, which was among the most streamed events in 2021, as Emma Raducanu shocked the world by winning her very first Grand Slam title.
Horse Racing
Few sports have gained as much in popularity over the past ten years as horse racing. One of the key reasons for this is the developments made in mobile betting, which was evident from the record-breaking crowds that attended the Cheltenham Festival in March 2021. Unlike most countries, there are two different types of racing in the United Kingdom- flat and jumps. The flat racing takes place throughout the summer before the jumps season kicks off in the middle of October and runs through to the end of April.
It could be argued that the biggest horse racing events on the calendar take place during the National Hunt season. Few Festivals attract as much in terms of wagers as the Cheltenham Festival, which takes place annually in March. The featured race of the week comes is the Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, the most betted event in any sport in the UK takes place in April, as the Grand National has the eyes of the nation on Aintree, as a field of 40 runners takes on 30 of the most difficult fences in the sport.
Streaming the sport has been exceptionally popular, with the biggest events gaining massive viewing figures. However, the streaming services available ensure that bettors in the UK are more rounded with what they watch now, as many horse fans also watch the action in the United States, France, and Australia.
