Sports is now the fastest-growing category across major global SVOD catalogues, according to new analysis from Gracenote.
The Nielsen-owned content intelligence business said sports now accounts for 5% of programming on the leading global subscription streaming services it tracks.
HBO Max, newly added to the Gracenote Data Hub, has the largest sports catalogue among major streamers, accounting for 35% of available sports programming and 42% at the individual game and event level.
Gracenote’s analysis now tracks HBO Max alongside Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, Netflix and Paramount+.
In November 2024, sports represented just 1.4% of the catalogues of Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, Netflix and Paramount+. By Q2 2026, those 5 services had more than doubled their sports share to 3.3%. Including HBO Max lifts the total to 5%.
There are now almost 38,500 sports shows, episodes, games and events across the leading SVOD services.
After HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video holds 25% of sports content, followed by Netflix on 16% and Disney+ on 14%.
At game and event level, Paramount+ now accounts for 30%, behind HBO Max on 42%.
Gracenote said the proposed Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery would make the combined company a significant global force in streaming sports.
The Q2 update also found FAST channels increased 19% year-on-year, with entertainment, sports, news and reality the most common genres. News channels showed the strongest annual growth, up 57%.
FAST is also becoming a growing outlet for live sport, with live events accounting for 37% of content on FAST sports channels.
Source: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2026/05/21/hbo-max-leads-global-streamers-for-sports-content/
