Thierry Henry Partners With Samsung As New Research Reveals British Football Fans Care About TV Quality Over Atmosphere

New research from Samsung reveals that while British fans believe football is best experienced together, viewing quality is shaping how and where they watch major matches

• Almost nine in ten (86%) British football fans say watching sport together makes them feel part of a community

• Almost half (43%) of British football fans surveyed also stated that who they watch a match with matters, with more than eight in ten (81%) noting that picture and sound quality in TVs, directly impacts how much they enjoy a match

• More than two thirds (66%) of football fans say they would visit their local venue more often if the venue improved its viewing experience

As a major summer of football approaches fans across the UK are gearing up to support their favourite teams. While many fans will be supporting outside of the stadium, new research from Samsung Electronics reveals that not all match day experiences are created equal.

The survey showed that with many fans watching in local venues, the top priority for match days is TV picture quality (83%), ranking higher than location convenience (80%), atmosphere (79%) and quality of food and drink (64%).

More than eight in ten (86%) of British football fans surveyed said watching a match together makes them feel part of a community. The community aspect is a key factor for sports fans, with almost half (43%) saying that who they watch a match with matters when watching a major tournament.

Quality time or viewing quality?

The desire for community remains strong. Most fans watch major tournaments together whether at home with family (54%), with friends (30%), or at a pub (41%).

Despite this clear desire to share the matchday watch, the quality of the viewing experience is holding many venues and homes back from being the go-to matchday set-up. In fact, more than eight in ten (82%) fans say picture and sound quality directly impacts how much they enjoy a major match.

Almost two-thirds (65%) of football fans have experienced some form of disruption while watching a major match at a venue, including:

Blocked or restricted viewing angles: 29%

Commentary volume unclear or inconsistent: 25%

Glare or sunlight reflection affecting screen visibility: 23%

Sound slightly out of sync with the action: 23%

Screen not bright enough during daytime matches: 18%

Difficulty tracking the ball clearly: 17%

Closing the gap in the match day experience

These issues are influencing where fans choose to watch the big game, prompting some to leave venues early, not return, or leave a venue to find a better TV viewing experience elsewhere.

Two thirds (66%) of football fans said they would visit their local community hub, pub or sports club more often if it improved its viewing experience. Almost three in five (59%) fans surveyed feel proud when their local venue is considered the ‘go-to place’ to watch live sport matches.

As fans look for experiences that combine both atmosphere and quality, it’s clear that most are looking for a match day experience that balances viewing quality with community spirit.

The research comes as Samsung marks 20 consecutive years of being the global No.1 TV brand[1], continuing to deliver immersive match day experiences whether in a local venue or at home.

To celebrate this milestone, Samsung has partnered with football legend, Thierry Henry to support its #WatchItOnASamsung campaign, focused on Samsung’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality matchday viewing experiences this sporting season – whether you are in your local venue or at home. In fact, more than half of fans surveyed (57%) said a Samsung would be their preferred TV to watch a football match on.

Henry will help the brand to showcase its latest TV innovations across its Micro RGB, OLED and Neo QLED range, from glare free technology to AI Football Mode & AI Sound Controller Pro – which allows users to adjust audio, such as muting background crowd noise – in a series of branded films and an exclusive event.

“Football is all about bringing people together whether you’re watching at the stadium, at home or at your local venue. But it’s also a game where split-second moments can change everything, so the quality of how you watch is just as important as the match itself,” Thierry Henry commented.

“Football, like all sports, brings people together to create shared moments and memories for fans across the world. However, as technology evolves, so do expectations and viewing habits. One thing remains true no matter how you watch live games, highlights, or key sporting moments, and that is that you always want the highest quality viewing experience,” shared Dan Harvie, VP of Home Entertainment and Appliances at Samsung UK.

“Our research also underlines the importance of community and how watching live sport together is as important as it ever was. Our latest ‘Raise The Bar’ campaign is all about supporting your local pubs and venues with the latest Samsung TVs and sound devices so the community can benefit from the best equipment possible and everyone can enjoy the exciting summer of sport together.”

Celebrating the role of shared matchday moments, fans can find out more about the ‘Raise The Bar’ campaign and vote to support their local venue at watchitonasamsung.com.

For more information on the latest range of Samsung TVs, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/uk/tvs/all-tvs/

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