Just one of the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is the widespread cancellation of virtually all live sports coverage, as leagues and competitions are postponed or cancelled.
During a representative survey of the British adult population, undertaken between the 24th and 25th March 2020, respondents were asked their opinions on what sport related themes should replace live sports on television (TV) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was significant gender dependent variation between the opinions of respondents. Although the largest share of both male and female respondents indicated that they have no interest in watching any sports on TV, with 33 and 54 percent respectively, 32 percent of male respondents held the opinion that that replays of classic matches and tournaments of tradition sporting varieties such as football, cricket, and rugby, should be screened as an alternative, compared to only 14 percent of female respondents. The second largest share of female respondents held the opinion that programs that focus on exercise and physical activity, in which viewers could participate, should be the primary replacement.
Distribution of opinions on what sport related themes should replace live sports on television (TV) during the COVID-19 pandemic, by gender
Characteristic
Replays of classic matches/ tournaments (e.g. football, cricket, rugby etc.)
Esports tournaments of traditional sports (e.g. football, basketball etc.)
Esports tournaments that aren't versions of traditional sports (e.g. Fortnite, League of Legends etc.)
Any format of a traditional sport (eg football, cricket, rugby, tennis etc.) competition from around the world which can be played without the risk of spreading the virus (e.g. players who have passed through quarantine period playing one another in special games)
Sport discussion/ debate
Programs that focus on exercise/ physical activity viewers can participate in
Any sport from around the world which have not been cancelled or postponed
Athletes or teams performing physical/sporting challenges against one another remotely
Athletes or teams playing sports related video games against each other
Other
None of these - I have no interest in watching any sports on TV
For this statistic, the values reported by the source have been converted into percentages and rounded.
Survey questions: Due to the global outbreak of coronavirus (Covid19), lots of professional sport has been cancelled/ postponed over the coming months. As a result of this, there will be less live sport shown on TV...Which, if any, of the following sport related themes would you like to see on TV whilst there is less live sports to watch? (Please select all that apply)
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YouGov. (March 27, 2020). Distribution of opinions on what sport related themes should replace live sports on television (TV) during the COVID-19 pandemic, by gender [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1108766/covid-19-what-should-replace-live-sports-opinion-by-gender/
YouGov. "Distribution of opinions on what sport related themes should replace live sports on television (TV) during the COVID-19 pandemic, by gender." Chart. March 27, 2020. Statista. Accessed September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1108766/covid-19-what-should-replace-live-sports-opinion-by-gender/
YouGov. (2020). Distribution of opinions on what sport related themes should replace live sports on television (TV) during the COVID-19 pandemic, by gender. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1108766/covid-19-what-should-replace-live-sports-opinion-by-gender/
YouGov. "Distribution of Opinions on What Sport Related Themes Should Replace Live Sports on Television (Tv) during The Covid-19 Pandemic, by Gender." Statista, Statista Inc., 27 Mar 2020, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1108766/covid-19-what-should-replace-live-sports-opinion-by-gender/
YouGov, Distribution of opinions on what sport related themes should replace live sports on television (TV) during the COVID-19 pandemic, by gender Statista, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1108766/covid-19-what-should-replace-live-sports-opinion-by-gender/ (last visited September 20, 2024)
Distribution of opinions on what sport related themes should replace live sports on television (TV) during the COVID-19 pandemic, by gender [Graph], YouGov, March 27, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1108766/covid-19-what-should-replace-live-sports-opinion-by-gender/