Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson grew up watching New York's second-best baseball team, the Mets, on ESPN with his dad.

Michael Johnson grew up watching New York's second-best baseball team, the Mets, on ESPN with his dad.

But now keeping up is a bit more complicated.

But now keeping up is a bit more complicated.

There's still your traditional TV stations, of course.

There's still your traditional TV stations, of course.

Johnson, who covers sports at S&P Global Market Intelligence, says viewership across the major sports leagues has never been higher.

Johnson, who covers sports at S&P Global Market Intelligence, says viewership across the major sports leagues has never been higher.

That's good news for sports leagues, which want to reach as many fans or potential fans as possible, says Bill Squadron at Elon University.

That's good news for sports leagues, which want to reach as many fans or potential fans as possible, says Bill Squadron at Elon University.

For streaming services, sports do drive an uptick in subscribers, says Brendan Brady at the analytics company Antenna.

For streaming services, sports do drive an uptick in subscribers, says Brendan Brady at the analytics company Antenna.

The challenge is keeping them in the offseason.

The challenge is keeping them in the offseason.

He gives Paramount Plus as an example.

He gives Paramount Plus as an example.

After football was over, the service offered UFC and the drama Landman to keep viewers subscribing.

After football was over, the service offered UFC and the drama Landman to keep viewers subscribing.

Broadcast rights don't come cheap, but Brady says sports are kind of the closest thing streamers have to a home run.

Broadcast rights don't come cheap, but Brady says sports are kind of the closest thing streamers have to a home run.