BBC's new digital strategy has borne fruit as Match of the Day (MOTD) scores a significant surge in viewership this season. The traditional Sunday evening highlights program, once a stalwart of BBC audiences, has seen a notable dip in linear viewing numbers - falling by 770,000 to 6.88 million average weekly views last month compared to December 2022. This decline is not entirely unexpected, given the broader trend of declining linear TV viewership.
However, MOTD's digital offerings have proved to be a different story altogether. The introduction of highlight clips made available on iPlayer and the website at 8pm on Saturdays has resulted in a welcome increase in viewership - up by 1.52 million compared to last season. The combined viewing figures for MOTD on iPlayer, covering evening programs and highlights clips, have soared to 61.9 million by December, more than double the 45.4 million views recorded at this point last year.
This digital consumption boom is part of a broader trend in football coverage, with the BBC expanding its clip rights and partnering with La Liga and the Bundesliga on high-profile deals. The corporation's sports team appears to be increasingly invested in digital media, recognizing the potential for significant growth and engagement.
The decline of MOTD's Saturday evening highlights program on BBC One and Two has been attributed to Gary Lineker's departure as presenter last summer. Following his 26-year tenure, the BBC opted not to secure a direct replacement, instead sharing presenting duties among Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates. While the full extent of this decision's impact is unclear due to limited data on MOTD viewership in isolation, it is evident that the program has found new life online.
The BBC remains tight-lipped on the matter, but sources suggest that the decline in linear viewers is consistent with broader trends in live TV viewing. As the corporation continues to adapt and evolve its digital strategy, one thing is clear: MOTD's digital offerings are a resounding success, offering fans a fresh way to engage with the action.
However, MOTD's digital offerings have proved to be a different story altogether. The introduction of highlight clips made available on iPlayer and the website at 8pm on Saturdays has resulted in a welcome increase in viewership - up by 1.52 million compared to last season. The combined viewing figures for MOTD on iPlayer, covering evening programs and highlights clips, have soared to 61.9 million by December, more than double the 45.4 million views recorded at this point last year.
This digital consumption boom is part of a broader trend in football coverage, with the BBC expanding its clip rights and partnering with La Liga and the Bundesliga on high-profile deals. The corporation's sports team appears to be increasingly invested in digital media, recognizing the potential for significant growth and engagement.
The decline of MOTD's Saturday evening highlights program on BBC One and Two has been attributed to Gary Lineker's departure as presenter last summer. Following his 26-year tenure, the BBC opted not to secure a direct replacement, instead sharing presenting duties among Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates. While the full extent of this decision's impact is unclear due to limited data on MOTD viewership in isolation, it is evident that the program has found new life online.
The BBC remains tight-lipped on the matter, but sources suggest that the decline in linear viewers is consistent with broader trends in live TV viewing. As the corporation continues to adapt and evolve its digital strategy, one thing is clear: MOTD's digital offerings are a resounding success, offering fans a fresh way to engage with the action.
but then i saw the highlights clips online n they were SO good!! i mean who needs traditional tv when u can watch ur fave goals n highlights whenever u want?! 
plus its so much more convenient than sitting in front of the telly at 8pm on saturdays 
so yeah digital is def the way to go for motd!
. Let's keep giving them props for evolving and trying new things! 
what's crazy is how well they're doing online tho, 61.9 million views is insane 
I mean, yeah, it's great that MOTD's digital stuff is doing well, but we need to see some actual numbers and sources on how much more engagement there is online compared to linear viewing. Is it just that people are watching clips instead of live matches? And what about the quality of these digital offerings - are they making up for the decline in traditional TV?
️). One thing's for sure – if MOTD can keep delivering engaging content, I'll be there to binge-watch those highlight clips 
.
I mean, who needs traditional TV when you can have highlight clips at 8pm on Saturdays? 
Gary Lineker may be gone, but his legacy lives on in MOTD's digital realm. 
The future of sports broadcasting looks bright indeed! 
. And what's up with the Saturday night program? Is it really worth sharing presenting duties among three people? I guess some fans might miss Gary Lineker, but I think the BBC is just trying to shake things up 
. Anyway, I'm not complaining that they're making more money from digital ads, but let's see how this all plays out in the long run 
... now if they could find ways to make the iPlayer clips more discoverable and user-friendly 
, that'd be a major win!
. Like, this little ball of fluff runs around and catches the ball, then drops it at your feet and looks up at you like "Hey human, throw again" 
. I swear, it's like they're trying to give me a reason to forget about the news for a bit 
and yeah, gary lineker's departure definitely played a role in the decline of the saturday evening highlights program, but sharing presenting duties among the other presenters seems like a decent backup plan. 
and i'm loving how they're bringing the content online. the shift to digital isn't surprising tbh, especially with the decline of linear tv viewership. but it's awesome to see motd finding new life online 
. and who needs gary lineker anyway?