5.0 IPTV soccer is premier class

Since the 2006 World Cup, the national sport of soccer has gained new momentum: 46 percent of German television viewers follow the Bundesliga – the German soccer league. One in three female viewers say they stay on the ball with league matches – this figure rises with age (for the over 60s: 43 percent). Does this mean the years of living with a soccer-mad husband eventually rub off? Regionally, northern German viewers are the biggest soccer fans: 52 percent follow the Bundesliga; in eastern Germany it is only 41 percent. That soccer is an even more beautiful game on IPTV is felt above all by sports fans in the west – and of course IPTV users, who have already tasted all the benefits. Overall, almost two thirds (62 percent) of soccer fans would like to follow all the matches in HD quality. Across Germany, the eastern Germans are most enthusiastic (68 percent) – and of course the IPTV users (79 percent). In the west, by contrast, almost two thirds (64 percent) get a thrill from the thought of seeing all 1st and 2nd Bundesliga matches live (overall: 58 percent; IPTV users: 71 percent). One in two (54 percent) there like the idea of switching between Bundesliga matches as desired. A good third of all soccer fans would welcome the ability to pause and rewind live matches, for instance, to be able check an offside decision (33 percent), or see Bundesliga matches in 3D (31 percent). IPTV users are even more keen on rewinding and fast forwarding live games: 57 percent like this function. If the coverage was not broadcast until later on Saturdays, almost one in four of those interested in the soccer (22 percent) would avoid it in favor of Internet coverage. In the south, almost as many as one in three (30 percent) say they would use different media than the television in such a case.