Paramount+ leads rivals in sports content

Sports programming across the five largest subscription video-on-demand platforms increased 52 percent year over year, according to research from Gracenote, the content data division of Nielsen.

The findings, published in the latest update of the Gracenote Data Hub, point to a growing focus on live games and related sports content as a driver of audience engagement.

The analysis highlights how streaming providers are expanding their sports catalogues to compete for viewer attention in an increasingly crowded market.

Paramount+ leads in sports programming

Over the past year, Paramount+ has moved ahead of Amazon Prime Video and Netflix in sports programming at the individual game and event level. Following its acquisition of UFC broadcast rights from ESPN starting in January 2026, the platform now offers more than twice the volume of sports content of any other SVOD service, reflecting a 219 percent year-over-year increase.

During the same period, the sports catalogue on Disney+ declined by 23 percent, signalling a different programming strategy among major players.

FAST growth driven by news and sport

Gracenote’s research also shows expansion in free ad-supported streaming television channels. Of the 2,060 FAST channels tracked globally, sports programming grew 30 percent year over year.

News content recorded the strongest growth on FAST platforms, rising 58 percent, with more than 200 dedicated news channels now available. Movie titles on FAST services increased 26 percent year over year, while TV shows rose 24 percent over the same period.

Launched in November 2024, the Gracenote Data Hub provides quarterly insights into content availability across leading global SVOD services and FAST channels. Drawing on Gracenote Global Video Data, the platform tracks shifts in catalogue composition and illustrates how streaming strategies evolve over time.

The full data hub can be accessed here

www.gracenote.com

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