Hurling
Hurling is the fastest field game on earth and one of the most exciting sports you will ever watch - the ancient Irish game played with the stick and the ball at speeds that make it the natural candidate for the 'never missed a match' list.
The rules are simple to follow - the players carry the ball on the hurley, score over the crossbar for a point or under it for a goal, and the pace of the scoring produces the high-scoring games that convert the new viewers quickly.
The championship season runs through the summer with the All-Ireland final as the climax, and the broadcast carries the full season across the international feeds.
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is India's indigenous contact sport - the raider invading the opposing half, holding the breath and tagging the defenders to score points, with the sport's pro league producing some of the most dramatic viewing in team sport.
The pro Kabaddi league's format is broadcast-friendly - the short matches, the relentless scoring and the individual duels create the viewing rhythm that converts the new audience easily.
The international appeal has grown fast - the league and the national competitions carry the passionate crowds and the distinctive atmosphere that reward the first-time viewer.
Sumo
Sumo is Japan's national sport with the deepest traditions in world sport - the tournament structure, the ritual elements and the sheer power of the bouts combine into the spectacle that the broadcast preserves.
The six annual tournaments run across the year, with each tournament's fifteen-day schedule producing the daily bouts that the coverage carries in full.
The real appeal for the new viewer is the drama of the individual bouts - the split-second outcomes, the huge collisions and the elimination stakes make every match count.
Handball
Handball is the sport with the fastest-paced team play in the Olympic programme - the rapid transitions, the high scores and the physical contests that the summer Olympic audience has already discovered.
The European club competitions across the year carry the world's best handball, with the championships and the Olympic cycle adding the international dimension.
The broadcast-friendly nature is the appeal - the sixty-minute matches with the constant scoring make handball the easiest of the international sports to follow.
Snooker and darts: the indoor theatre
Snooker is the cue sport with the deepest tactical layer - the sixteen-red table, the safety battles and the tournament structure that produces some of the most dramatic sporting afternoons on television. The World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters form the Triple Crown that the season's viewing centres on, with the broadcast carrying the full sessions. The appeal for the new viewer is the theatre - the hush of the crowd, the tension of the final frame and the occasion of the championship nights.
Darts has become one of the most watchable sports on television - the crowd atmosphere, the 180s and the tournament drama have turned the pub game into the arena spectacle that fills the biggest halls. The Premier League and the World Championship carry the season's drama, with the broadcast producing the arrival walks, the crowd scenes and the match-night theatre as part of the spectacle. The appeal is the accessibility - the rules take a minute to learn and the drama is immediate, which makes darts the easiest of the international sports to start watching tonight.
Cricket's T10 and the shorter formats
The shorter cricket formats - the T20 and the T10 leagues - have made cricket the accessible international sport, with the two-hour windows, the constant scoring and the franchise atmosphere carrying the new audience.
The international leagues across the subcontinent and the franchise circuits produce the year-round cricket calendar, with the broadcast carrying the global competition season.
The entry point for the new viewer is the shorter format's pace - the cricket that finishes in the evening rather than the five-day version that has kept the newcomers away.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I watch these sports?
They carry the drama, the atmosphere and the following of the mainstream sports, with the coverage available in the same subscription.
Are they easy to follow?
Yes - the shorter formats and the simple rules of hurling, darts and handball convert the new viewers quickly.
Where are these sports available?
The international feeds across the catalogue carry the global competition calendar for all of them.
Which is the best entry point?
Darts and handball are the easiest - the quick rules, the immediate drama and the broadcast-friendly formats.
The bottom line
The 18,000-plus channel catalogue carries far more than the mainstream, and the international sports - the hurling, the handball, the sumo and the rest - reward the viewer who explores. Each offers the drama and the following that the covered leagues deliver, with the fresh perspective that the familiar sports no longer provide. Message us on WhatsApp at +1 (555) 364-8853 or wa.me/15553648853 and we will point you to the right channels.
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