The report also ranked Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook as top platforms following YouTube, with Reddit being the year's biggest riser due to its community-focused nature. The report also emphasised the importance of sports organisations to win at both screens simultaneously and to prepare for a world of potentially infinite user data and distraction. It also predicted a shift in D2C strategies from non-premium content to gamification and the monetisation of short-form and non-live content by sports organisations.
Key takeaways:
- The distinction between 'first' and 'second' screens will be abandoned in 2025 as viewers' phones dominate their attention, according to IMG’s Digital Trends Report 2025.
- YouTube is crowned as the priority platform for the sports industry due to its ability to reach, engage and monetise audiences.
- 2025 will be the true age of wearables, with tech companies like Snap, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple increasing their investment in tech that integrates seamlessly into our lives and onto our bodies.
- IMG’s 2025 Platform Power Rankings place YouTube at the top, followed by Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp, with Reddit being the year’s biggest riser, climbing four places to sixth.