Amdocs, a leading provider of software and services to communications and media companies, has published research findings into consumers’ viewing expectations around the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Qatar in November.
The World Cup 2022 Viewing Report, conducted by Dynata and commissioned by Amdocs, surveyed US and UK-based viewers who plan to watch the tournament, which is being held in the Gulf for the first time.
It found that viewers are largely ready for a new era of amazing interactive entertainment offerings and are willing to pay for digital products and services that make their experience more enjoyable.
Key report findings:
- When asked if they would be willing to pay extra for an unlimited World Cup-specific mobile data package to stream matches at 5G speeds with no delays or loss of connectivity, 48% of UK consumers were interested.
- While most US viewers (68%) plan to watch the World Cup on live TV, 57% of millennials and 39% of Gen-X plan to stream games. Notably, viewers under 40 plan to watch the games on social media channels, with Gen-Z leading this trend (34%) followed by millennials. (32%).
- While 78% of UK-based fans are confident in their home connectivity to support their World Cup viewing, confidence drops to 57% when it comes to their mobile network. Accessibility is also a concern, with 18% of total respondents stating they don’t have access to all games from their TV provider.
- Two-thirds (64%) of US viewers expressed interest in using the metaverse to be part of a virtual stadium where they could watch sporting events with other fans as if they were there. Gen-Z (44%) and millennials (40%) are the most interested, while a third (35%) of Gen-X respondents were.
- Beyond the metaverse, UK viewers have a growing desire for more interactive experiences like 360-degree live video of the game (30%), interactive in-game challenges (25%) and AR/VR experiences (24%).
Anthony Goonetilleke, group president of technology and head of strategy at Amdocs, said, “As 5G availability expands, we expect to see more service providers creating unique ‘experience packages’ beyond generic 5G speed across all offerings, for instance, a connection specifically for the metaverse or augmented reality sports, and more, even packaged with hardware or other physical goods that enable or complement the experience. As experiences become more a la carte, there is a need for a new kind of approach that can be fine-tuned and uniquely tailored to end-users. This flexibility will be essential too for players in an increasingly digital world, including next-generation entertainment experiences made possible by a reliable network.”
Raman Abrol, general manager at Amdocs and CEO of Vubiquity, noted, “These findings show that consumers now have new, specific criteria that determine value from their service and content providers, and they want new ways to engage. It also opens opportunities to rethink how services can be bundled; they can be powered by a diverse ecosystem of partners that delivers best-in-class offerings like 360 video, real-time insights and metaverse experiences. This approach is essential to get right because opportunities to personalize the viewing experience will continue to grow, creating more options and potential complications as consumers try to manage their offerings.”
Amdocs is showcasing its ongoing innovation at GITEX GLOBAL 2022, booth number: Z2-B20.
The World Cup 2022 Viewing Report is based on a September 2022 survey from Dynata, which targeted 1,000 US consumers and 1,000 UK consumers who plan to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
