International sports revenues are in line to increase to US$145.3bn (£92.5bn, EUR108.5bn) over the next five years, according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report.

Improving economic conditions; rebounding television advertising; and continued migration of sports to pay television are among the factors set to fuel the growth by 2015.

PwC predicted that global sports revenues will increase at an annual compound rate (CAGR) of 3.7 per cent, with North America poised to remain the largest market.

Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia will be the next two largest markets, while Latin America is set to have the highest CAGR rate due to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Julie Clark, head of PwC's UK sports practice, said: "While the balance of power is shifting to some emerging markets which are hosting mega sports events over the next few years, the growth opportunities in the traditional developed markets are far from over.

"What has been clear through this era of economic uncertainty is that the balance of global economic power is shifting to the East and this will help maintain the internationalisation as sports seek new revenues from the growing middle classes in the emerging nations."

Details: www.pwc.com

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