Male sports fans make up more than half of the group of people with an interest in women's sports, according to a report published Thursday by analysts Nielsen Sports.
The report found that 84 percent of general sports fans in eight key markets around the world, including the United States and Britain, have an interest in women's sports, and that 51 percent of those are male.
"This research not only illustrates the vast amount of people actively interested in women's sports today, but also shines a spotlight on the significant commercial opportunities on the horizon," said Lynsey Douglas, who led the team behind the 32-page report "The Rise of Women's Sports."
"From equal pay to record audiences and new media deals, women's sport is one of the fastest changing areas in the sports industry, and is more important now than ever before."