Bebo is a social networking site that is popular in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The site’s traffic has been down in the past year or so. It traditionally has has a fairly large contingent of Australian sport fans, with most people being fans of the NRL. It has a smaller population of fans for other sports like the AFL and NBL. There were questions regarding bebo’s viability for most of 2010, when there were rumors that the site would be shut down if it failed to find a buyer. This and a variety of other factors, such as the popularity of Facebook and YouTube, have led to a lot of once active users becoming inactive.
Despite the issues regarding inactivity, it is a site worth looking at to begin to give a snapshot of sorts back in time, to understand the size of Australian and Kiwi women’s sport fandom four years ago to a year ago, when activity levels dropped off. It might be possible to determine where these fans migrated to by looking at growth on other niche networks, which could be useful for determining engagement strategies. This data can also give an idea as to what was popular. If the comparative levels of interest on other networks are not similar, it could suggest that clubs have failed with their marketing strategies or have found a method to really engage in their audience that other clubs could benefit from.
When looking at bebo, there are a variety of ways to do that. One of the first is to use search result totals, and compare the size of the community to other teams and over time. The second way is to look at the size groups/views for videos. The third way is to look at the demographic data for people who lit the team as an interest. This will be broken down by league/federation.
Search: ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the most successful women’s (semi) professional league in Australia. It makes sense that the team would have the largest amount of interest on bebo. While this is true, the community size, the number of groups and videos created by these fans is still extremely limited. (Their counterparts in the AFL often have 200 to 400 people who list them as an interest.)
Interest | People | Video | Music | Groups | Apps | Skins | Date gathered |
Melbourne Vixens | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19-Nov-10 |
Melbourne Vixens | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
NSW Swifts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19-Nov-10 |
NSW Swifts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
Queensland Firebirds | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19-Nov-10 |
Queensland Firebirds | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
West Coast Fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug-10 |
West Coast Fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19-Nov-10 |
West Coast Fever | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
Search: AWIHL
This is a niche league, where the men’s team also fail to have people who list them as an interest. If there is an ice hockey fan base in Australia, it is not on bebo.
Interest | People | Video | Music | Groups | Apps | Skins | Date gathered |
AWIHL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19-Nov-10 |
W-League
Somewhat surprisingly, the W-League fanbase on bebo appears to be a bit larger than that of the ANZ Championship. One possible factor for this could be that the overall fan community for soccer is really large on bebo. Another contributing factor could be that the Canberra United attract male fans to the sport that a W-League team may not otherwise get because the United do not have to compete with an A-League club in their city: If you love soccer in Canberra, you support the top level competitions here. Bebo also has a community of people who uploaded videos. Soccer videos are really popular across the whole of the network. Given that, W-League fans may be part of a larger part of video uploading culture that ANZ Championship fans are removed from.
One issue at play with W-League results is that Canberra United content is easier to pull out than the Melbourne Victory, because secondary keywords are needed to differentiate Melbourne Victory W-League results from A-League results. This means that real numbers for the W-League teams could be understated. Similar issues of a sort exist for the W-League, which shares a name with an American women’s soccer competition. This could lead to an over representation when just that term is counted.
Team | Interest | People | Video | Music | Groups | Apps | Skins | Date gathered |
Adelaide United | Adelaide United W-League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-Jul-10 |
Brisbane Roar | Brisbane Roar W-League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-Jul-10 |
Canberra United | Canberra United | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug-10 |
Canberra United | Canberra United | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3-Jun-10 |
Canberra United | Canberra United | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15-Jun-10 |
Canberra United | Canberra United | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25-Jun-10 |
Canberra United | Canberra United | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1-Jul-10 |
Canberra United | Canberra United | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24-Oct-10 |
Central Coast Mariners | Central Coast Mariners W-League | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-Jul-10 |
Melbourne Victory | W-League Melbourne Victory | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-Jul-10 |
W-League | W-League | 41 | 53 | 48 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 25-Jun-10 |
W-League | W-League | 41 | 53 | 48 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 1-Jul-10 |
Canberra United | Canberra United | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
Adelaide United | Adelaide United W-League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
Brisbane Roar | Brisbane Roar W-League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
WNBL
The WNBL is the premiere women’s basketball competition in Australia. Unlike the NBL, it does not include a New Zealand team. The problem with one of the teams looked at, the West Coast Waves, is that the name is a rather common phrase and almost none of the video results look relevant to the WNBL team. This type of issue can be a huge problem for women’s (and men) sport when doing promotion and reputation management for the club’s brand beyond the players.
Interest | People | Video | Music | Groups | Apps | Skins | Date gathered |
Perth Lynx | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug-10 |
West Coast Waves | 5 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug-10 |
Perth Lynx | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25-Nov-10 |
West Coast Waves | 5 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25-Nov-10 |
WNCL
The WNCL teams being looked at do not share the name issues that their WNBL counterparts share. Unfortunately, they may suffer a problem with not all results being shown as they often have names with sponsors in them. Official and player content may pull up sponsor named related names. The average fan is less likely to use them as fannish identities are not based around who sponsors them.Interest | People | Video | Music | Groups | Apps | Skins | Date gathered |
Victorian Spirit | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15-Jun-10 |
Victorian Spirit | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug-10 |
Western Fury | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug-10 |
Victorian Spirit | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
Western Fury | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
Search: Women’s World Cup Soccer
The Matildas are Australia’s national women soccer team. As the W-League is larger than the ANZ Championship, it is not surprising that there is a comparable elevated amount of interest in the team.
Interest | People | Video | Music | Groups | Apps | Skins | Date gathered |
Matildas | 22 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1-Jul-10 |
Matildas | 22 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16-Aug-10 |
Matildas | 22 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26-Nov-10 |
Videos: W-League
Only the W-League Canberra United team were checked. Some of the videos for the team had quite a number of views. bebo’s stagnation is quite clear when looking at this data as the number of views for all videos failed to increase between June 3 and November 26.
Video | Total | Description | Date checked |
W-League Final 2009: Queensland Roar V Canberra United -… | 0 Viewers | W-League Final 2009: Queensland Roar V Canberra United – Goals – 17jan09 | 3-Jun-10 |
W-League Final 2009: Queensland Roar V Canberra United -… | 0 Viewers | W-League Final 2009: Queensland Roar V Canberra United – Goals – 17jan09 | 26-Nov-10 |
W-League: Canberra United V Melbourne Victory – Report -… | 5 Viewers | W-League: Canberra United V Melbourne Victory – Report – 20dec08 | 3-Jun-10 |
W-League: Canberra United V Melbourne Victory – Report -… | 5 Viewers | W-League: Canberra United V Melbourne Victory – Report – 20dec08 | 26-Nov-10 |
W-League: Canberra United V Sydney FC – Report – 6dec08 | 95 Viewers | W-League: Canberra United V Sydney FC – Report – 6dec08 | 3-Jun-10 |
W-League: Canberra United V Sydney FC – Report – 6dec08 | 95 Viewers | W-League: Canberra United V Sydney FC – Report – 6dec08 | 26-Nov-10 |
W-League: Central Coast Mariners V Canberra United – Rep… | 8 Viewers | W-League: Central Coast Mariners V Canberra United – Report – 13dec08 | 3-Jun-10 |
W-League: Central Coast Mariners V Canberra United – Rep… | 8 Viewers | W-League: Central Coast Mariners V Canberra United – Report – 13dec08 | 26-Nov-10 |
W-League: Newcastle Jets V Canberra United – 26oct08 | 445 Viewers | W-League: Newcastle Jets V Canberra United – 26oct08 | 3-Jun-10 |
W-League: Newcastle Jets V Canberra United – 26oct08 | 445 Viewers | W-League: Newcastle Jets V Canberra United – 26oct08 | 26-Nov-10 |
W-League: Perth Glory V Canberra United – Report – 30nov08 | 0 Viewers | W-League: Perth Glory V Canberra United – Report – 30nov08 | 3-Jun-10 |
W-League: Perth Glory V Canberra United – Report – 30nov08 | 0 Viewers | W-League: Perth Glory V Canberra United – Report – 30nov08 | 26-Nov-10 |
W-League: Perth Glory V Canberra United – Report – 30nov08 | 64 Viewers | W-League: Perth Glory V Canberra United – Report – 30nov08 | 3-Jun-10 |
W-League: Perth Glory V Canberra United – Report – 30nov08 | 64 Viewers | W-League: Perth Glory V Canberra United – Report – 30nov08 | 26-Nov-10 |
People: ANZ Championship
The table below includes the demographic data for people who listed ANZ Championship teams as interests on bebo. This data tends to confirm that teams have local interest and don’t have national fan bases.
Interest | Name | Gender | Age | City | State | Country |
Adelaide Thunderbirds | J A M E S | Male | 18 | South Australia | Australia | |
Adelaide Thunderbirds | LiL-Miss-Sharna | |||||
Central Pulse | Jacinda S | Female | 19 | Tauranga | New Zealand | |
Central Pulse | Kaz Hagedorn | Female | 25 | Wellington | New Zealand | |
Central Pulse | Magics BOp | Female | Waikato | New Zealand | ||
Central Pulse | Rebecca | Female | 21 | Tauranga | New Zealand | |
Melbourne Vixens | Chelsea Tobin | Female | ||||
Melbourne Vixens | Elise. | |||||
Melbourne Vixens | Mrs Lutz. | Female | Wellington | Wellington | New Zealand | |
New South Wales Swifts (Sydney Swifts) | ~~mrs~~orlando~~bloom~~ | Female | 20 | |||
New South Wales Swifts (Sydney Swifts) | Keegs L | Male | Parramatta | New South Wales | Australia | |
New South Wales Swifts (Sydney Swifts) | Kirsten R | Female | Sydney | New South Wales | Australia | |
New South Wales Swifts (Sydney Swifts) | Phoebe Zapletal | Female | Maroota | New South Wales | Australia | |
Northern Mystics | Keshia Grant | Female | 23 | Eltham | Taranaki | New Zealand |
Southern Steel | Ian K | Male | 18 | Coonawarra | South Australia | Australia |
Southern Steel | James N | Male | 19 | Christchurch | Canterbury | New Zealand |
Southern Steel | James Robinson | Male | 21 | Stafford | England | United Kingdom |
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Jacinda S | Female | 19 | Tauranga | Bay of Plenty | New Zealand |
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Magics BOp | Female | Waikato | Bay of Plenty | New Zealand | |
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Rebecca | Female | 21 | Tauranga | Bay of Plenty | New Zealand |
People: Basketball Australia
The Australian Opals have a similar issue with a few other Australian sport teams: People could use these words but not mean the team. This makes a bit of sense, given that one of the people who list the Opals as an interest is not from Australia.
Interest | Name | Gender | Age | City | State | Country |
Australian Opals | Lauren Jackson | Female | 28 | Albury | New South Wales | Australia |
Australian Opals | Marc Zillmer | Male | 54 | Salem | Oregon | United States |
People: W-League
Some what surprisingly, the people who list a location are not from Canberra. A possible explanation for this is that Sydney bebo users are friends or family of players, who themselves may not be from Canberra.
Interest | Name | Gender | Age | City | State | Country |
Canberra United | Jack | |||||
Canberra United | Missunderstood | Female | Sydney | New South Wales | Australia | |
Canberra United | Faz | Male | 21 | Sydney | New South Wales | Australia |
Canberra United | R.i.p steve irwin R.i.p | Male |
People: WNBL
Like the ANZ Championship, most fans are from areas near where the team is based. Fans also tend to be young and there is an even mix of male and female fans, which suggests that the WNBL could grow by working to attract that male audience in communities under served by NBL teams.
Interest | Name | Gender | Age | City | State | Country |
Adelaide Lightning | Olivia Smith | Female | 31 | Adelaide | South Australia | Australia |
Australian Institute of Sport | Ben Hall | Male | 25 | Adelaide | South Australia | Australia |
Australian Institute of Sport | Blair H | Male | 21 | Bendigo | Victoria | Australia |
Australian Institute of Sport | Chris Roper | Male | 22 | Sydney | New South Wales | Australia |
Australian Institute of Sport | Daniel Walker | |||||
Australian Institute of Sport | Lauren Jackson | Female | 28 | Albury | New South Wales | Australia |
Australian Institute of Sport | Lieke Schaap | Female | 18 | |||
Australian Institute of Sport | Rayno Ellis | |||||
Australian Institute of Sport | Sam Pickett | Male | 25 | Noosa | Queensland | Australia |
Bendigo Spirit | Lisa Clark | |||||
Canberra Capitals | Lauren Jackson | Female | 28 | Albury | New South Wales | Australia |
Dandenong Jayco Rangers (Dandenong Rangers) | J-E-S-S | |||||
Dandenong Jayco Rangers (Dandenong Rangers) | Vanessa Lacey | |||||
Logan Thunder | Emmyy | |||||
Logan Thunder | Laura Mc Dermott | Female | 22 | Lismore | New South Wales | Australia |
Logan Thunder | Leisa C | |||||
Logan Thunder | Logan Thunder – Mens DLeague | Male | ||||
Logan Thunder | Loganthunderisda | Male | Logan | Victoria | Australia | |
Logan Thunder | Patty | |||||
Logan Thunder | Scotty | Male | Logan | Victoria | Australia | |
Perth Lynx | Liam Dunn Kellock | Male | Perth | Western Australia | Australia | |
Perth Lynx | Tash Nichols | Female | 18 | Perth | Western Australia | Australia |
Sydney Uni Flames | Vlad Alava | Male | ||||
Townsville Fire | Rebecca | Female | 20 | Townsville | Queensland | Australia |
Townsville Fire | Reece Dowleans | Male | 21 | Townsville | Queensland | Australia |