In the tech community, there are two types of people: those who go digital because it exists, and those who do so because it solidifies a personal endeavor. The latter might comprise the biggest percentage as of late, simply due to sports.
March Madness, in particular, just started, and has recruited tons to mobile, social and all sorts of high-definition media exclusively for the benefit it provides to those who, according to Kevin Tillmann of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), need to “see every detail” and “every play.” In college basketball, the only thing better than a ticket in the student section is a courtside seat, and the only thing that competes with a courtside seat lately – according to 49 percent of all sports fans – is the ability to see that seat, live, in crystal clear resolution, right in the palm of your hand.
“With so many March Madness games on the horizon, mobile technology can really help fans keep up with all the action,” added Tillmann.
The proof is in the numbers: nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of sports “Super Fans,” reported Yahoo Finance from the CEA, are self-proclaimed “early technology adopters.” Those who are the least passionate about sports – 36 percent – are in turn more likely to consider themselves ‘late adopters’ of the movement.
Even more for hoops fans; 66 percent prefer 3D sports compared to 35 percent in more all-around sports enthusiasts.
“Super Fans” are reportedly those who are the “most sports-oriented consumer segment,” according to the CEA, and consist of almost half of those surveyed who say they’ll purchase an NCAA Tournament-based mobile app for this year’s event.
CEA’s report suggests the 2013 NCAA basketball tournament will see 33 percent of all tablet owners, and 35 percent of all smartphone users, watching from their respective devices. Over half of Super Fans also say their next smartphone or tablet purchase will be happen in the next two years, and each developer surely owes the sports biz some gratitude.
