New analysis from Gracenote has revealed that sports is now the fastest-growing content category across major global subscription streaming platforms (SVOD).
According to the report, sports now represents 5% of programming across the leading streaming services tracked by the company, underlining the growing importance of live and sports-driven content in the streaming wars.
The study found that HBO Max currently owns 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 tracking now includes HBO Max alongside Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix and Paramount+.
Back in November 2024, sports accounted for only 1.4% of the catalogues across Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix and Paramount+. By Q2 2026, that figure had more than doubled to 3.3%. Including HBO Max pushes the overall share to 5%.
There are now nearly 38,500 sports shows, episodes, games and live events available across the leading SVOD services.
Behind HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video holds 25% of sports content, followed by Netflix with 16% and Disney+ with 14%.
At the individual game and live-event level, Paramount+ accounts for 30% of the market, second only to HBO Max’s 42%.
Gracenote also noted that the proposed merger involving Paramount Global, Skydance Media and the potential scale of Warner Bros. Discovery could create a major global powerhouse in streaming sports.
The report further highlighted the rise of FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channels, which grew by 19% year-on-year. Entertainment, sports, news and reality programming remain the dominant genres, while news channels posted the strongest annual growth at 57%.
FAST platforms are also becoming increasingly important for live sports distribution, with live events now making up 37% of programming on FAST sports channels.