BBC 5 Live asks: are rising ticket and subscription costs pricing fans out of sport?

BBC 5 Live tackles the rising cost of watching sport

A new episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's 5 Live Sport: All About... podcast, broadcast on 8 October 2026, turns its attention to one of the most pressing concerns for supporters across the sporting world: are fans being priced out?

Presented by Katie Smith, the 82-minute edition — available to listen to for 29 days on BBC Sounds — asks why the cost of attending and watching major sporting events has climbed so steeply, and what might happen next.

Why are costs rising?

Smith is joined by Sean Farrington, from BBC Radio 4's Wake Up to Money, and sport finance expert Dr Tom Bason to examine the economics behind the rising price of tickets for major sporting events and the growing cost of subscriptions.

The panel investigates the forces driving prices upward and considers what the future might hold for fans who are feeling the squeeze on their spending.

Voices from the industry

A range of guests joins the discussion to offer perspectives from across the sporting and broadcasting landscape. Richard Flint, chairman at Seat Unique, comes on to discuss how demand for live events has changed in recent years.

Psychologist Dr Kayleigh Smith explores how the connection between fans and live sport has shifted since the pandemic, examining the changing relationship between supporters and the events they love.

Mark Darbon from the R&A — golf's governing body that stages The Open — speaks about what it actually costs to put on a major sporting event, and how organisers aim to keep things affordable for spectators.

The streaming perspective

Pete Oliver, DAZN's CEO of growth markets, joins the podcast to focus on how a newer streaming service approaches the market. His contribution sheds light on the strategies behind the platforms now competing for fans' subscription budgets.

Throughout the episode, the real-world impact is brought into focus through the voices of sports fans themselves, who share how the changing cost landscape is affecting their ability to follow the sport they love.

Listen now

The episode, titled "The price of our sport — are fans being priced out?", is available on BBC Sounds for 29 days. Listeners can access the full programme via the BBC Sounds website.