- Virgin Media O2 broadband data shows Tuesday is the UK’s new big night in, with evening peak traffic higher than on any other day of the week
- Sports and gaming dominate Tuesday traffic, with Fortnite and Call of Duty launches, as well as Champions League and Premier League matches all driving some of the highest peaks in the last year
- Brits are also prioritising their downtime earlier in the week, to save cash and energy for Friday and the weekend
4 March 2025, London – Virgin Media O2 has today released data showing that Britons are embracing Tuesday as the new big night in, with more broadband traffic on Tuesday evenings than on any other day of the week, including weekends. This is driven by important sporting fixtures often falling on a Tuesday and it being the most common day of the week for big game releases.
The traffic spikes have emerged from Virgin Media O2’s broadband network analysis, which is a reliable indicator of the connectivity habits of the British public. Year on year, traffic on the network between 8-10pm has continued to grow, with Tuesday recently taking Sunday’s crown for the busiest evening of all. Alongside this new analysis, Virgin Media O2 has asked the British public about their weeknight screentime habits and how they unwind during the working week.
When asked, 34% of Brits admitted that their weekday social plans depend on sporting fixtures, with major Tuesday matches – like Man City vs. Real Madrid last month – accounting for some of the busiest evenings on Virgin Media O2’s network. Tuesday traffic is also driven by gamers, with it being the most common day of the week for big gaming launches and patches for popular games such as Call of Duty and Fortnite.
Brits are prioritising their downtime early in the week, with 44% keen to balance out busy weekends and 67% skipping weekday socials to save money. Post-pandemic, 51% of people say they’re less spontaneous after work, two thirds (67%) stay in to conserve their social battery and 71% admit to staying at home before an office day to preserve energy.
Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2 said: “Virgin Media O2’s network data provides a window into how Brits are spending their evenings with many seeking downtime earlier in the week. Whether it’s live sports, new gaming releases or the latest TV shows, we’re providing the connectivity needed for many to unwind. As demand continues to grow, we’re investing more than £2bn per year to deliver the vital connectivity our customers rely on.”
Virgin Media O2 is committed to upgrading and expanding its fixed and mobile networks across the UK to provide customers with the best experience possible. With demand for data continuing to rise to record levels last year, the company invests more than £2bn a year on its networks and services to make this a reality.
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