Last week’s autumn equinox, coupled with a series of heavy rainfalls across the UK, officially marked the end of summer and the beginning of a new season – meaning one thing: the release of a new EA Sports FC football game. As a result, Video Gaming content saw a 33% increase, topping our weekly engagement charts.
Topical News
The launch of EA Sports FC 2025, the latest instalment in Electronic Arts’ long-running football simulation series, has boosted reader engagement with Video Gaming by +33%. Further growth in the category is expected in the coming weeks, driven by autumn’s new game releases, Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, and Christmas gifting.
Elsewhere, Pets content saw a 29% increase in growth last week, following the release of Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life, a memoir by James Middleton, younger brother of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. The book details how his relationship with his pets has supported him through his mental health struggles.
Finally, victory for Daniel Dubois against Anthony Joshua on Saturday night drove Boxing to 4.5x growth.
Seasonal Events
The announcement of the Booker Prize shortlist last week led to a 3.6x increase in Literary Awards page views within the Books & Literature category, which itself grew by +7%. Expect further engagement in the category next week and into early October, with the Henley Literary Festival and Cheltenham Literature Festival coming up.
As retail’s biggest quarter, Q4, begins next week and Black Friday approaches in two months, Shopping page views rose by 20% last week. Notably, reader engagement with Sales & Promotions content nearly tripled, as some of our premium publishers began previewing the best deals and discounts consumers can expect.
View our latest Q4 insights for more on the key moments that will matter to consumers through to the end of 2024.
