51% of Gen Z say highlights are replacing live games for them, compared to 38% of Americans overall

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Bango (OTC:BGOPF) released research showing fragmented sports streaming is pushing younger fans toward highlights, clips and social media instead of full live games.

Many Gen Z and young adults report subscription overload, needing multiple services, missing games, and sometimes turning to piracy rather than paid sports streaming.

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Sports viewing is being reshaped as streaming fragmentation fuels rise of clips and second screen fandom

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New research from subscription bundling platform Bango (AIM: BGO) suggests that younger sports fans are increasingly turning to highlights, clips and social media to follow the games they care about, as fragmented sports streaming changes how audiences consume live sport.

The study found that half (50%) of Americans want one app for all the sports they watch. That rises to 56% among 18–24-year-olds and 59% among 25–34-year-olds. Younger viewers are also significantly more likely to feel overwhelmed by the current sports streaming landscape, with 45% of 18–24-year-olds and 46% of 25–34-year-olds saying they subscribe to too many sports streaming services, compared to 30% of Americans overall.

Additionally, most younger sports fans say they need multiple subscriptions just to follow the teams and games they care about. Almost three-quarters of 18–24-year-olds (73%) and more than three-quarters of 25–34-year-olds (77%) say they currently need more than one paid subscription to watch all the live sports they actively follow, compared to 57% of Americans overall.

Against this backdrop, younger audiences are reshaping how sport is consumed. Around half of 25–34-year-olds (51%) and 18–24-year-olds (47%) say highlights are replacing live games for them, compared to 38% of Americans overall. Meanwhile, 59% of 25–34-year-olds and 58% of 18–24-year-olds say they often follow games through clips, updates or social media instead of watching the full match, compared to less than half (46%) for the general population.

Second-screen viewing is also becoming increasingly common among younger audiences. More than half (58%) of both 18–24-year-olds and 25–34-year-olds say they use a second screen, such as a phone or tablet, while watching live sport, compared to just 39% of Americans overall.

The findings suggest that many younger viewers are not turning away from sport but adapting to a more fragmented viewing environment. More than half of younger fans say they have missed a game because they could not find where it was streaming, including 57% of 18–24-year-olds and 55% of 25–34-year-olds.

As sports streaming becomes increasingly fragmented, some consumers are even looking beyond traditional sports subscription models altogether. Three in ten Americans (30%) say they do not pay for sports streaming because piracy is the best way to watch sports. That rises to 40% among 18–24-year-olds and 37% among 25–34-year-olds.

Commenting on the findings, Giles Tongue, subscription expert at Bango, said: “Sports streaming was supposed to make live sport easier to access. Instead, many fans now find themselves juggling multiple subscriptions and platforms just to follow the teams and games they care about.

“While live matches remain hugely important, they are no longer the only way that young fans engage with sport. As streaming becomes more fragmented, many are turning to highlights, clips and social content to stay connected, transforming sport from a single live viewing event into an always-on digital experience.

“This isn't necessarily a sign that younger fans care less about live sport. It’s more of a reflection of how sports consumption is evolving. When viewers are juggling multiple subscriptions, struggling to find where games are streaming and missing matches altogether, it's no surprise that highlights and social content are becoming a bigger part of the sports experience.

“The findings highlight a growing gap between how fans want to consume sport and how sports streaming is delivered today. As sports content becomes spread across more services, the brands that simplify access and bring fragmented sports experiences back together will be best placed to engage the next generation of sports fans.”

To learn more about the findings, click here.

About Bango

Bango enables content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships. Bango revolutionized the monetization of digital content and services, by opening up online payments to mobile phone users worldwide. Today, the Digital Vending Machine® is driving the rapid growth of the subscription economy, powering choice and control for subscribers.

The world's largest content providers, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft trust Bango technology to reach subscribers everywhere.

Bango, where people subscribe. For more information, visit www.bango.com

Methodology

This research was commissioned by Bango and conducted by an independent research agency. The research comes from a representative sample of 2,500 American consumers aged 18 and over, and was conducted in May 2026.

Media contact
Keaiana O'Riordan
bango@wildfirepr.com

FAQ

What did Bango (BGOPF) reveal about Gen Z sports viewing habits in June 2026?

Bango reported that many Gen Z fans now rely on highlights, clips and social media instead of live games. According to Bango, 51% of 25–34-year-olds and 47% of 18–24-year-olds say highlights are replacing live games for them.

How is sports streaming fragmentation affecting younger viewers, according to Bango (BGOPF)?

Streaming fragmentation is driving younger fans to juggle multiple subscriptions and miss games. According to Bango, 73% of 18–24-year-olds and 77% of 25–34-year-olds need more than one paid subscription to watch all the live sports they actively follow.

What percentage of Americans prefer a single sports app, based on Bango (BGOPF) research?

Half of Americans want one app for all the sports they watch. According to Bango, this rises to 56% for 18–24-year-olds and 59% for 25–34-year-olds, highlighting demand for simplified, bundled sports streaming access.

How common is second-screen sports viewing among Gen Z in Bango (BGOPF) findings?

Second-screen viewing is widespread among younger fans, who often use phones or tablets while watching. According to Bango, 58% of both 18–24-year-olds and 25–34-year-olds use a second screen, compared with 39% of Americans overall.

What did Bango (BGOPF) report about piracy and sports streaming behavior?

Some viewers avoid paid sports streaming because they see piracy as the best option. According to Bango, 30% of Americans, including 40% of 18–24-year-olds and 37% of 25–34-year-olds, say they do not pay for sports streaming for this reason.

How often do younger fans miss games due to streaming confusion, per Bango (BGOPF)?

Many younger fans have missed games because they could not find where they were streaming. According to Bango, 57% of 18–24-year-olds and 55% of 25–34-year-olds report missing a game for this reason.

Do younger sports fans still value live games according to Bango (BGOPF)?

Younger fans still value live matches but are adapting to digital formats. According to Bango, live games remain important, yet many younger viewers increasingly engage through highlights, clips and social content in an always-on sports experience.