What we do when we watch live sports: An analysis of concurrent viewing behaviors

Nicky Lewis, Walter Gantz, Lawrence A. Wenner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using an active audience perspective, this study examines the wide-ranging inperson and second-screen behaviors that occur while viewing live sports. A national sample of participants (N = 630) was surveyed about their live sports viewing behaviors while watching a normal game, a close game, and one where the outcome was clear. Viewers concurrently engaged in a variety of game-related and unrelated activities, many involving additional screens and a social dimension (e.g., talking about the game with others in person and through media, hanging out with family/friends). Games that were not close encouraged more activity than games that were close. Sports fanship was positively associated with game-related behaviors but not unrelated behaviors. In all, live sports viewing involves a wide array of simultaneous in-person and second-screen activity, with some of that activity focused on the sporting events themselves, and other activities focused on meeting the responsibilities of daily life.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)153-167
Number of pages15
JournalInternational Journal of Sport Communication
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Human Kinetics, Inc.

Keywords

  • Active audiences
  • Sports fanship
  • Sports viewing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Communication
  • Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management

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