Sports streaming is massive all over the world. But things are done differently down under! The sports that people stream in places like the US are definitely vastly different when compared to the Aussies’ pastimes.
Australians have invented some of their own sports that are now starting to get popular in other locations. The US has even hosted some games that are in the NRL (the Australian Rugby League).
English links are also fairly common in the sorts of sports watched in Australia, as there are so many people in the country with British ancestry. Famously, the two countries are rivals in loads of sports and these are some of the biggest matches on the calendar (especially in cricket). Let’s look at the unique world and hobbies of Aussies before we get into some of their most popular streaming sports.
Australian Hobbies and Sports
Things have evolved a little differently in Australia, which is a long way from the countries in the West and has its own brands of hobbies. A lot of them have similarities with hobbies in the UK but they are slightly different. Casino games were taken to Australia when masses of people from England went to live on the continent. Popular games from England and elsewhere made it to Oz, of course. However, pokies (a variation of poker that can be played with one person) became some of the most popular games in Australia and there have been a lot of games developed for the Aussie market.
Table games remain popular but they have been modernized in recent years. When playing at a live casino in Australia, people can also connect and play with a specific live dealer on the other end of a video feed. Playing these kinds of games has become very common and studies show that 38% of adult Australians gambled at least every week, with live dealer casino games being among the most popular ways to play blackjack and other similar games.
Almost 1/3rd of Aussies say that outdoor hobbies are important to them. Aussie hobbies often also revolve around beautiful nature spots. A lot of beach sports are big and so are things like fishing due to the natural beauty spots in the country and its massive coastline. Many Aussies would back themselves in a challenge like this that allows them to try and catch a fish in just 60 seconds:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9HPoisvMte/
Australian Rules Football (AFL)
Australian Rules Football, also called AFL, is more than just a sport in Australia; it’s a part of the culture. Streaming platforms make it easier than ever to follow the AFL season from anywhere. Fans can watch live matches as long as they have a reliable internet connection. Online availability of AFL content has also helped the sport grow its international fan base, introducing it to new viewers.
Last season there were over 13 million viewers. This is actually relatively small compared to some sports in America, but it is worth remembering the population of Australia is only 26 million – not even 10% of the population of the United States!
Cricket
Think of Aussie sports fans and you may well think of cricket. Those from the Land Down Under tend to enjoy the sport and lots of the top players come from the country including undisputed GOAT, Don Bradman, who was an Aussie.
The sport has a lot of history and its popularity spans generations – there are many “formats” or types of cricket with tweaks to the rules and the length of the games. The Big Bash League (BBL), Australia’s premier T20 competition, brought a fresh twist to the game and a more global audience.
This audience is pretty tech-savvy and online streaming has changed the way fans engage with cricket. During the summer, fans can stream live matches from home or on the go. Whether it’s the excitement of the Ashes series or the prestige of international tours, cricket enthusiasts have loads of content at their fingertips. International stars like Haris Rauf help to light up the tournament but also serve to make cricket more popular in other locations. The BBL is now watched all over the globe.
Soccer
We couldn’t ignore the world’s most popular sport; Soccer, or football as it’s known globally, has seen growth in popularity in Australia over the past decades. The A-League, Australia’s top domestic competition, has grown steadily, attracting some big names from the UK as managers and players. The Socceroos, Australia’s national team, have also enjoyed success on the international stage and even made it to World Cups.
Fans can now stream A-League matches but also the more world-famous tournaments like the EPL and FIFA World Cup. This accessibility has helped soccer reach new audiences. Plenty of soccer fans hail from Australia but the local tournaments help make it more accessible and millions of people attend in person as well as streaming or viewing on TV.
