How do your kids watch sporting events?

[Utebeam]

For those of you with kids in the Millenial and Gen Z(born after 2000) how do they watch sporting events on tv. I ask this because as I watch my 15 and 12 yearold boys watch football/basketball on tv I am noticing something interesting.

Here is what I am seeing. They don’t like to sit down and watch an entire game even if it is their favorite team that they love to follow and talk about non-stop. A typical football game goes like this: watch kick off and maybe the first five minutes of the first quarter then wander off and watch their ipad or iphone. A big play happens and I start cheering, they rush in and yell what happened, rewind it. This is the typical pattern for the entire game. Then the next day they are talking about all of the cool plays that happened that they watched on sports center or some internet site.

So why is this? Is this the new way in which sports will be consumed, (bit sized highlights)? Does anyone else see this or is it just me? If this is indeed the way in which sporst are consumed in the future how will that change the way games are played? Think of all the ad revenue lost when advertisers figure out that the core audience is no longer watching the game on tv. Without ad revenue there is a sizable chunk of revenue gone from the sports league and teams. Sorry for the rambling thoughts.

[rbmw263]

Whoa. You just described by nephew. Always running in after TDs asking us to rewind it 😐

In fairness his brother only 2 years older does not do this. Watches every play and is as into sports as his dad and me. 

[GameForAnyFuss]

How do my kids watch sporting events?

Alone.

Too annoying to have them watch with me.

[CincyUte]

Give ’em a few more years. It reminds me of when I was that age.  I loved going to football games with my friends. But when I got there, I was more interested in exploring the stadium than watching the actual game.

[Chidojuan]

As a Millenial, when the Utes are playing, all focus on them, and I flip to a quick glance at another game during commercials.  Other teams, I watch multiple games at the same time, flipping back and forth during a pause or review.  I have a 4 year old son that I’m teaching the game to, and I don’t really find him distracting at all, he likes to tackle me when he sees a good one.  I think you have to watch with a lot of interaction and your kids eventually get wrapped up in it like you do.  I also have twin girls that are old enough to watch TV now, and I’m excited to teach them the game.  I don’t think short clips are the wave of the future, it just takes time and maturity to fully immerse yourself in the game.

[Red Dawn]

I’m a Gen X’r and feel like there are people my age doing the same thing. (not to the same degree as Millenials) They look at their phones or tablets all game while occasionally looking up to see the score or a replay. Twitter and Instagram are more important than the game. 

I do feel like this has a lot to do with all the commercials jammed down our throats. ESPN is the worst at this, but they need to pay the bills for their massive licencing fees. The problem is they are hemorrhaging money and viewers, and have no way of fixing the situation. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the next few years.

[Utah]

Full disclosure, I’m a millennial. I’ve found that my parents and those 40+ are on their phones way more than I am, my kids are or my friends are when we hang out. 

I usually watch games with my boys (7 and 9) and they do a good job sitting the whole time. I talk to them a lot, we rewind things a lot and appreciate plays made here and there by individual players (so we can fast forward commercials) but they are still young too. 

I think they will fall in line. I don’t think viewing habits will change as much as we like to think they will. It’s still tough to beat a 70 inch screen in your living room and it’s tough to beat 260 channels for $69.99. 

[ladyinred]

What is the cutoff birth year to be a millenial vs. GenX’er? Asking for a friend.

[Utebeam]

80

[FtheY]

When I was a kid we walked 15 miles to school, uphill both ways! 

Kidding Utebeam. I see your point. I don’t have kids, but it’s hard enough to get my friends to enjoy a game with me. 

I’m really curious to see how the games get shorter over the course of time. Didn’t they make a halftime tweak for this season? 

[Tony (admin)]

Gen X, Millenial, bla bla.  Too many names.  I don’t know or care what they mean anymore… 

[Utahute72]

Tony, it’s a way to denote the existing generations:

Baby boomers (me)
Gen X (my kids)
Millenials
Gen Z

Not really if the grand kids fall in millenials or Gen Z. But my Grandson plays football, he generally watches with his buddies on the team. Sometimes with me and his dad if we are at the house.

[Tony (admin)]

Can you put some numbers by those things?

[RedRocks]

I am also curious to see how things will change.  I hate watching most commercials, and I don’t like how long the games last because of commercials.  When I have access to a DVR, I like to record the game and start watching a bit later: allowing me to skip most of the commercials.  I won’t have a DVR this year (SlingTV), so I won’t have much choice.

I also don’t like watching tv episodes at a rate of one per week.  I prefer to wait until the particlular tv show’s season is over or nearly over, then start watching the episodes at my own pace. For example, I waited until the 4th season of Black Sails was over (or on the last episode or so) before I even started watching it.

BTW, I was born in 1985, so I am not really in the age group you are asking about.

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