Spotify has released new data showing significant growth in the consumption of sports video podcasts worldwide.
Fans are increasingly turning to the platform to connect with their favourite voices beyond live matches.
According to Spotify, sports video podcast consumption is up more than four times year-on-year, with a 53% quarter-on-quarter increase.
The rise includes a wide range of shows, including The Ringer’s titles, Goalhanger’s The Rest is Football, golf programme No Laying Up, Brazilian series 3 Lados da Corrida, and content from US-based creator Jesser.
The company also highlighted a growing female audience, with consumption from women up 353% year-on-year, suggesting the sports podcast market is broadening beyond traditional demographics.
This data comes at a time when new sporting seasons are underway across the globe. NFL and college football are returning in the US, while the Premier League has restarted in England, fuelling heightened demand for sports conversation and analysis.
Spotify’s figures suggest that fans are increasingly using podcasts to extend their engagement, moving the experience from simply watching games to immersing themselves in ongoing debate and discussion.
The report also underlined the global scale of sports fandom on the platform. The US, UK, Brazil and Australia currently lead in consumption, with Finland notably breaking into the top ten markets for sports video podcasts.
Spotify says video adds a new dimension to the format, offering fans the ability to see and hear their favourite commentators and creators. “Radio lets fans listen in. Spotify video podcasts let them be there,” the company said, emphasising how the medium transforms passive listening into an interactive viewing experience.
The figures point to a rapid acceleration in the popularity of sports video podcasts, positioning them as a central part of how fans engage with their teams, athletes and sporting culture worldwide.
