In 2026, my sports media consumption or “diet” can be described as a wide range of palates, much like a buffet. But to get to today, we must first take a look back at five years ago. Back then, in 2021, my consumption was mainly through highlights on YouTube, scrolling on Instagram, watching NFL games on cable, and whatever books I could find on the sports I liked. Back then, social media played a major role in how I consumed and digested sports media. For the sports that weren’t available to me on tv such as soccer, Formula 1, and boxing, I had to see the final score or race/fight results on social media. I didn’t get to enjoy the thrill and stress of watching the live event.
Fast forward to now. There is a streaming app/service for everything. Just like the way sports are evolving, my diet has also evolved. Instead of the NFL, I prefer College Football, and instead of boxing, I prefer the UFC. By subscribing to apps such as ESPN+, Paramount+, YouTubeTV, and AmazonPrime, I am able to catch all of my favorite sports. Instead of having to wait for the race/fight results, I can go on ESPN+ and Paramount+ to watch Formula 1 and UFC fights, respectively. I can watch all the soccer I want on ESPN+ and Paramount+ as well, and even now catch every single Winter Olympic event on Peacock. Even though Roku and streaming services/apps have taken the main stage by storm, I still rely on social media for updates when I either can’t catch an event live or when I’m too lazy to turn it on and pay attention to it. The rapid rise of sports betting has also changed the way I consume media. Personally, I do not gamble; however, I still benefit from this growing trend. For example, if I’m watching a UFC fight and don’t know who either fighter is, the betting odds can help me figure out who may have the edge, or when a College Football game is close, I can see, in real-time, who people believe will come out on top.
It is hard to say how I predict the next five years will change the already evolving world of sports media; yet, I do have one prediction. I do believe that as sports and technology continue to advance, sports may become more immersive than ever before. Like how the Apple Vision Pro can let you watch live events/games as if you were in the stadium/arena, I believe that this technology will continue to be innovated. One thing that I do hope for the future is to see that prices for subscriptions to decrease and allow more fans across the country and world to enjoy the sports they love without having to break the bank.