By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
In its 24th season, the upward trajectory of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague shows no sign of slowing down. In all areas, there has been increased growth as more and more fans continue to engage with the competition and follow the most competitive basketball league in the world.
On social media is where most fans – both new and existing – have been able to see the latest developments in the EuroLeague, whether it is signings in the offseason, the latest plays during games, and, of course, the reaction that follows. Across all the EuroLeague’s social media platforms, there has largely been triple-digit growth compared to last season. As of December 2023, EuroLeague SM platforms recorded aggregated growth rates of 93% in engagement, 76% in reach, 92% in impressions, and 117% in views when compared to that same period in the prior season. Instagram and TikTok lead the way in new followers.
The EuroLeague has particularly thrived on Instagram, with a 96% rise in impressions, reach, views, and engagement, while it is also predicted that the league’s account will surpass the barrier of one million followers during the 2023-24 season. By bringing fans ever closer to the action with on-site extensive coverage for the biggest games in the competition, the 129% increase in views – to 350 million – is a result of providing a more immersive experience that resonates with younger audiences.
Two posts garnered a record-number level of attention, too, as there were 1.3 million likes and 22 million views for Real Madrid’s now-famous play that ended in a Sergio Rodriguez-to-Vincent Poirier alley-oop dunk, while the most-viewed video in EuroLeague history was Chima Moneke’s decision to miss a free throw and ice the game, which resulted in 34 million views. The passion shown by the EuroLeague fans in the stands has also repeatedly made the news in outlets around the world.
There have also been incredible numbers on X, formerly known as Twitter. The total number of impressions is already at 255 million, which is already over the amount of the entire 2022-23 campaign’s 231 million. As such, there has been a 110% jump when comparing the two sets of numbers.
What’s more, the number of views accumulated on X so far this season has also doubled when compared to the previous campaign, as there has been a remarkable 131% increase in this department. This is further evidence of how interest in the EuroLeague has gone to another level entirely this season.
On Facebook and TikTok, there has been a similar jump in terms of impressions, rising 120% to 39 million. WhatsApp Channels, a new service that was launched this season, reached 400.000 users in just 3 months. Once again, fans are finding EuroLeague basketball on their feeds across all the main social media platforms.
EuroLeague TV views multiplied by 225%
Another major way in which fans can follow the league is through EuroLeague TV, which has seen a 45% rise in overall subscriptions year-on-year, a 225% increase in total views year-on-year for the season so far and a 114% jump in the total minutes viewed year-on-year to this point in the 2023-24 campaign.
In addition, the introduction of a single sign-in has also provided EuroLeague ID users with the chance to watch free content on EuroLeague TV, which has introduced several innovations for fans to enjoy.
One new feature that has been introduced is a rolling live channel, ELTV 24/7, which is available for all users all day long, including those who do not have a subscription. Then there is The Players’ View, which provides an alternative telecast with current and former players’ perspectives during live games and gives fans the ability to become part of the stream by responding to polls, making it possible for viewers to “like” certain comments, and also putting their questions to the hosts. Jake Cohen, currently on Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv’s roster, and Michael Roll, with a long career across multiple EuroLeague teams, are the usual hosts of the show, often joined by other guests.
Video reaching more viewers than ever
The numbers on YouTube also show yet more interest in the EuroLeague, as the total views so far this season amount to 15.1 million, up 19%. In terms of total watch time, there has been a 9% jump to 558 thousand hours, while the most pleasing increase has been the 24% rise in channel subscriptions to 446,000 total subscribers.
This overall growth is in line with the live TV numbers posted last season, as there was a 23% improvement in this area. There were 4.46 billion people who tuned in to watch EuroLeague games and content on TV or via digital platforms during the 2022-23 campaign, while the TV audience in total – across live, delayed, and repeat, and news and highlights TV coverage – reached 1.15 billion.
Triple-digit jumps in fantasy games, website
The EuroLeague’s fantasy games is another area that is thriving, having engaged 4.3M fans. Facebook mobile EuroLeague Pick & Play and EuroLeague Draft games have created a solid community of 4.2M participants. The fan-favorite Fantasy Challenge jumped to 170,000 total users for the 2023-24 season, a year-on-year increase of 132% while reaching a total number of teams of 275,000, a 147% rise year-on-year. This growth comes as part of Euroleague Basketball’s gamification strategy, which has also seen the introduction of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast to increase further interest in the game.
Meanwhile, EuroLeague.net, the official competition website and nexus for game coverage, feature stories, opinions, and more, has seen a 170% jump in views this season even as the relatively new official app has 60% more users.