Olympics During the Pandemic: Predictors of Olympics Viewing Across Platforms During the Tokyo Games

Abstract

This research empirically tested the Dynamic Model of Exposure by examining users’ multiplatform exposure during the Tokyo Olympic Games. Findings supported the model, suggesting that Olympics viewing was a dynamic process involving individual preferences and structures. Various preferences and structures combined to explain 37.7% of the variance in viewing the Olympics on television and 48.7% of Olympics viewing via digital streaming. Overall, endogenous preferences provided the largest predictive value, suggesting that pre-Olympic media routines had the most powerful influence on viewing this mega-event on both television and via digital streaming. Variables related to the COVID-19 pandemic showed no significant impact on those who watched the Tokyo Games.