A major new global study found that 84% of general sports fans -- "more than half of whom are men" -- are interested in women's sport, according to the BBC. The research by Nielsen Sports, which was carried out across the U.K., the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand, revealed 51% of male fans are "engaged in women's sport." Of the general population -- both male and female -- of the eight countries, 64% have an interest in "at least one women's sport." However, interest levels are higher in sports where men's and women's events are staged together -- for example, athletics or tennis -- "as opposed to being staged separately," like in golf, cricket or football. The study, which surveyed 1,000 people from each country, also found that women's sport is seen as more "inspiring," "progressive," "family-oriented" and "clean" than men's sport, while the latter is seen as being more "money-driven." Almost 50% of women think women's sport is competitive, compared to 44% of men, while 41% of women and 31% of men find it inspiring (BBC, 10/4).
