The 17th edition of UEFA EURO, hosted by Germany, has ignited passionate fan engagement, exceeding digital metrics from the previous tournament.
SonyLIV, the official broadcaster, has witnessed a phenomenal surge in user engagement:
- 50% increase in users: Compared to the initial days of Euro 2020, the domestic OTT platform has seen a significant rise in its overall user base.
- 64% jump in total views: The total number of video views on the platform has skyrocketed, highlighting the increased interest in the matches.
- 350% spike in live viewership: Live matches are captivating audiences, with a staggering 350% increase compared to Euro 2020.
The tournament commenced with a bang. Germany’s dominant 5-1 victory over Scotland set the stage, followed by captivating clashes between Spain and Croatia, Italy and Albania, England and Serbia. Slovakia’s upset win against Belgium and France’s triumph over Austria added further excitement. The first round concluded dramatically with Portugal’s last-minute victory against the Czech Republic.
The surge in viewership is particularly noteworthy in India. The streaming platform has witnessed a phenomenal 560% growth in key users aged 25 to 44, highlighting the growing appeal of European football among younger demographics. Notably, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi account for over 61.5% of the platform’s user base for the tournament, indicating regional strongholds for football fandom.
The Indian streaming giant’s record-breaking opening can be partly attributed to its innovative features. “Star Cams,” “Dugout Cams,” and multi-language commentary provide viewers with a more immersive and personalized experience, contributing to the increased engagement compared to Euro 2020. Furthermore, a 164% rise in viewership via Connected TV underscores the growing trend of digital sports consumption on larger screens.
In light of the tournament’s soaring viewership, CoinSwitch has partnered with Sony’s streaming service to launch its new campaign, “Switch to CoinSwitch.”
As the tournament progresses, fans can anticipate captivating matches. Today’s schedule features Croatia versus Albania and Germany versus Hungary. Other highly anticipated clashes include Denmark versus England, Spain against Italy, Netherlands facing France, and Belgium playing Romania.