Global Scans · Leisure · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Online retailing will be one of the fastest growing channels between 2015 and 2019 as individuals do not have much time for leisure and seek convenience. Entertainment will continue to shift away from traditional broadcast media and print to reality augmented and deeply personalised content. The occupations with the largest new employment growth will be managers, professional and technical jobs, and caring and leisure occupations. Many middle-class professionals will be outsourced to machines within the next few decades leaving workers with more leisure time than they have ever experienced.

• [New] The entertainment & gaming segment is predicted to grow at the strongest CAGR of approximately 17.38% during 2026-2035, driven by increasing adoption of immersive gaming experiences and virtual reality integration. GlobeNewswire
• [New] SPORTS With major events like the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup and the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, businesses involved with major sporting events need to be more mindful than ever with regard to unforeseen risks and potential perils. JD Supra
• [New] US women's sports media rights are projected to reach $520M annually by 2030, a 250% increase from 2024 levels. CMMedia by Carrie A. Mitchell
• [New] In 2026, other European leagues are expected to authorize the use of wearables during competition, ushering in a substantial shift in how teams manage player health across multiple sports. International Business Times
• [New] 81% of respondents plan to combine business and leisure travel in 2026. Insurance Business
• [New] In 2026, Telegram groups and communities will consist of education, technology, sports, content creation, and international business. Ameisenhardt.com
• [New] Leisure demand will be fuelled by the continued recovery of long-haul travel, with the European Travel Commission expecting visitor numbers from China to increase by 23% and from India by 9% in 2026. LEADING HOTELIERS
• [New] Iconic franchises like Looney Tunes, DC and Harry Potter could receive sustained investment and development, giving families higher quality entertainment without constantly switching between apps or managing multiple bills. Deseret News
• [New] As live sports increasingly moves to streaming platforms like Amazon, Netflix, and Peacock, advertisers have new lucrative opportunities to reach highly engaged audiences in premium environments. / UK Teads
• [New] By 2030, a budget electric car may run on a sodium-ion battery, a long-range sedan on a silicon anode with a liquid electrolyte, and a premium sports car will receive a solid-state battery.
• [New] The only new sport in 2026 will be ski mountaineering. The Conversation
• [New] Entertainment events are expected to lead the event type segment with a 32.0% share in 2026 because of the high volume and operational intensity of concerts, music festivals, film productions, and touring shows held across the world. Dimension Market Research
• [New] Yahoo Finance's forward-looking report puts the global sports betting and gambling space on track for $198 billion by 2030. Proactiveinvestors UK
• [New] Today's sports economy, already valued at $2.3 trillion, will reach $8.8 trillion by 2050. Yahoo Sports
• Generative AI app downloads-leveraging large language models and image generators for writing, research, education, and entertainment - are expected to reach 4 billion, generate $4.8 billion in in-app purchase revenue, and account for 43 billion hours of usage. Futureuae
• The convergence of generative AI, virtual production, and synthetic media is creating an entirely new category of creative infrastructure that will define entertainment production for the next decade. BUSINESS 2.0 NEWS
• By 2040 only around 10 countries will have suitable conditions to host snow sports for the Winter Games without heavy reliance on artificial snow. Winssolutions - World Innovative Sustainable Solutions
• Sports hospitality is a booming business, as is sports tourism, which is expected to reach more than $1.7 trillion by 2032. Yahoo sport uk
• Rising temperatures and unpredictable snowfall are reshaping winter sports, from local slopes to global competitions. College of Natural Resources News
• By 2040, only 10 nations on Earth may still have the climate conditions needed to host Olympic snow sports. Yahoo News Canada

Last updated: 04 March 2026