Whether with a beer mug in the beer garden, with popcorn on the sofa, or in fan attire at a public viewing event – for the past week, the EURO games have been drawing football enthusiasts to the screens. Depending on how the games are watched, it can happen that the ball is already in the net for some while others are still watching a free kick being taken. According to a survey by the digital association Bitkom, 4 out of 10 people find this annoying.
Most people (69 percent) watch the games comfortably at home, 58 percent with friends, acquaintances, or family. To ensure they can watch all the games, 11 percent of Germans have even signed up for a new streaming subscription – with slightly more men (14 percent) than women (8 percent) doing so. These results come from a survey of 1,004 people aged 16 and older in Germany, conducted on behalf of the digital association Bitkom.
Nearly half (46 percent) enjoy watching the EURO games in social settings such as bars, pubs, or restaurants. Over a quarter (28 percent) prefer larger gatherings and attend public viewing events or watch with others at fan festivals or fan miles. One percent managed to get tickets and watch the games live in the stadium. However, it's not always possible to turn watching football into a social event: 9 percent of Germans say they follow the games on their smartphone or tablet while on the go, and another 9 percent watch while at work.
On the other hand, 28 percent of Germans are not watching this year's men's football EURO at all. Among men, this percentage is 21 percent, while it is 35 percent among women.
Goal Cheers as Spoilers for Streamers
Whether at home or on the go, whether via satellite, cable, or TV apps from streaming services – depending on how and sometimes on which device the games are watched, it can happen that the ball is already in the net for some while others are still watching a free kick being taken, much to the fans' dismay: 39 percent of Germans are annoyed when neighbors cheer for a goal before they see it themselves.
"Satellite and cable are generally a bit faster than streaming services because the signal undergoes fewer processing steps and doesn't need to be as heavily compressed as it does for internet transmissions," says Nick Kriegeskotte, an expert in digital infrastructure at Bitkom. Moreover, 15 percent of respondents can imagine watching football matches illegally. Kriegeskotte warns: "Illegal streaming, however, carries the risk of hefty fines and legal warnings. Watching football matches illegally poses a high risk."
