How has the rise of fantasy sports betting in the US and India influenced the interest in NFL?

The rise of fantasy sports betting in the US and India has significantly influenced the interest in NFL. Fantasy sports betting has gamified the experience of watching NFL games, increasing engagement in every game, not just those played by a viewer's favorite team. This has led to an increase in viewership, with the average fan watching more games. In India, the number of fantasy gamers has been growing rapidly, from 90 million in 2019 to an estimated 150 million by the end of 2022. This growth in fantasy gaming could potentially contribute to a greater interest in the NFL.

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Alternatively, the rise of fantasy sports betting throughout both the US and India could contribute to a greater interest in the NFL. There were 90 million fantasy gamers in India in 2019, and it is estimated that by the end of 2022, there will be nearly 150 million fantasy gamers in the country. Disney (under Bob Chapek) had its sights set on sports betting as a growth avenue for its streaming content, and previously said that the Under 35 demo wants sports betting as part of their sports lifestyle. In 2021, a lot of the NFL's viewership gains came from the average fan watching 20.3 games instead of 18.8, which some have attributed to the gamification aspect of fantasy football, which increases engagement in every game as opposed to just those played by your favorite team. But we'll see if Bob Iger, Disney's new CEO, agrees with that strategy. (Source)

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The future strategy of Disney's new CEO, Bob Iger, regarding sports betting and streaming content is not explicitly stated in the content provided. However, it's known that Disney, under the leadership of Bob Chapek, had identified sports betting as a growth avenue for its streaming content. The company recognized that the Under 35 demographic is interested in sports betting as part of their sports lifestyle. This strategy has been linked to increased viewership for the NFL, as fans engage more with games due to the gamification aspect of fantasy football. Whether Bob Iger will continue with this strategy is yet to be seen.

The gamification aspect of fantasy football has significantly contributed to the increase in NFL viewership. Fantasy football allows fans to engage more deeply with the sport, as they have a vested interest in the performance of individual players, not just teams. This encourages viewers to watch more games, even those not involving their favorite team, to track the performance of their fantasy team's players. In 2021, the NFL's viewership gains were partly attributed to this phenomenon, with the average fan watching 20.3 games instead of 18.8. The rise of fantasy sports betting has also contributed to this trend, as it adds another layer of engagement and interest in the games.

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