World Cup and UFC Event Boost Streaming Usage and Downloads

Two big sporting events, the FIFA World Cup and the UFC Freedom 250, caused a lot of buzz for streaming platforms lately. According to Sensor Tower estimates, Paramount+ saw a 34% increase in monthly active users (MAUs) over the last 30 days, Fox Sports had a whopping 254% jump, and Peacock grew by 73%.

Paramount+ live-streamed the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn on Sunday, June 14. Meanwhile, the Fox Sports app and Peacock have been showcasing the FIFA World Cup, which kicked off on Thursday, June 11.

In terms of downloads, Sensor Tower reports significant growth for these platforms. Paramount+ saw a sharp 184% increase day-over-day and a 276% rise over 30 days. For the World Cup, Fox Sports experienced a 181% daily increase, with Peacock at 35%. Over a broader 30-day period, Fox’s rise was more than fourteen times higher than the previous month.

As of the first quarter of 2026, Paramount+ boasted 59.1 million U.S. subscribers, while Peacock had 44 million. Fox One, Fox Corp.’s streaming platform that launched in August 2025 and includes Fox Sports content, currently has around 2.3 million subscribers.