Sports fans have consistently proven to be catalysts for adopting new technology in the media and entertainment space. Historical evidence over the past 30–40 years shows that passionate fan demand has accelerated the uptake of various broadcast and consumer technologies. From the rise of cable TV to high-definition broadcasting and today’s streaming platforms, sports enthusiasts often lead the charge in embracing innovations to get closer to the game.

Globally, piracy is estimated to cost the sports industry as much as $28 billion in lost revenue each year. These staggering figures reflect a worldwide challenge: whenever fans feel priced out or shut out, many turn to unauthorized streams. Putting a fan first strategy in place can turn pirates into paying fans.

Sports content is evolving from a one-feed-for-all model to a one-feed-for-each model, and that doesn’t mean choosing one market over another; it means serving each and every market in parallel. Spatial media provides the technical foundation to do this efficiently, and global streamers provide the distribution.

Sports franchises and broadcasters have long admired the engagement levels seen in sports video games. Now, with spatial sports media, the line between game and reality is blurring, and advertising stands to become more personal and impactful in the process. Gamers have shown that dynamic, personalized ads can be accepted, even appreciated, when done thoughtfully and in context.  Spatial Media will bring dynamic ads in vidoe games to live sport games.

In the battle for audience attention, the dynamics of sports and short-form digital content are not oppositional but increasingly synergistic. Destination viewing is far from dead, it’s evolving into new forms that blend the live, collective excitement of traditional broadcasts with the interactive, personalized engagement of the social media age. Sports, as a content genre, continues to dominate live viewership and capture cultural moments in a way few other things can. At t

In the last five years, a wave of up-and-coming sports leagues has surged in popularity, driven by fans’ appetite for fresh, immersive experiences. Unlike traditional leagues, these new sports ventures blend athletic competition with technology, interactivity, and unprecedented access to players. Fans still crave live sports, but they also love seeing athletes in new perspectives,  for example, hearing competitors mic’d up or watching from unique angles[1][2]. This desire for

Enter the Sports AI Agent, an AI-powered personal companion that enhances your game-day experience in real time. Think of it as your own digital co-pilot for sports, tuned to what you care about. For example, Skyrim.AI, a leader in immersive sports tech, describes its Sports AI Agent as a "virtual companion" that learns your preferences and tailors the broadcast accordingly

Imagine tuning into a football game and seeing Woody and Buzz Lightyear celebrating a touchdown, or flipping on a hockey match where Bugs Bunny is skating on the ice. It sounds like a kid’s cartoon special, yet it’s actually happening in live sports broadcasts.

Volumetric video is essentially the art of capturing 3D movement over time, think of it as filming a performance in a way that you can later walk around it. Instead of watching shadows on a wall, as in traditional flat video, we’re capturing the entire sculpture in motion, with depth and volume.

Do you enjoy podcasts? Our expert series is now published as a podcast, so you can read or listen to The RSN Reckoning: How Teams Are...

There’s a seismic shift happening in how young sports fans consume content. Generation Z (roughly ages 10–28 today) isn’t following in the footsteps of older viewers, in fact, evidence shows they’re far less likely to watch live games in full, and far more likely to consume sports through short, on-demand snippets. A recent global survey found that just 31% of sports fans aged 18–24 watched live full-length matches, compared to 75% of fans aged 55+

Sports fans have always craved deeper engagement, and a new wave of extended reality (XR) technologies promises to deliver it. Imagine experiencing a live match not just on a screen, but all around you – with 3D replays, holographic overlays, and virtual vantage points. Achieving this level of immersion at scale will take more than cool gadgets; it demands unity across the sports and tech industries.

Sports broadcasts are starting to look and feel more like Hollywood productions. From cinematic camera work that mimics film and TV, to virtual production techniques straight out of VFX-heavy movies, to AI tools that streamline editing and commentary, the worlds of Hollywood and sports media are converging.

Spatial sports media transforms passive viewers into active participants, giving unprecedented control over the game experience.