World Cup “most accessible in history” says Ovum

Ted Hall

The football World Cup from Brazil is the most accessible in the tournament’s history, according to research group Ovum, which estimates aht coverage of the competition is available on up to 5.9 billion screens globally.

According to Ovum, PCs, tablets and smartphones now account for the majority of screens on which the World Cup is available, totalling 57% of all screens. However, larger screens will account for the majority of viewing of the tournament.

“Devices capable of streaming live and on-demand video – of which there now 4.7 billion – are providing additional viewing opportunities outside the appointment viewing taking place in people’s living rooms,” said Ted Hall, senior analyst at Ovum. “With the likes of tablets providing the convenience and flexibility to consume content whenever and wherever, fans are able to watch more of the tournament than ever before.”

Despite the widespread availability of the content, Ovum said that significant innovation around the tournament is lacking, with FIFA abandoning its support for 3DTV.