What Is Sports Broadcasting?

Sports broadcasts provide fans with the next best thing to being at the game, watching from the comfort of their home. Fans can sit on their couch, put their feet up and sip on an affordable beverage from the refrigerator. Sports broadcasts give fans a way to see their favorite team when they are out of town on business or on vacation or when the team is on a road trip.

  1. History

    • The first sporting event broadcast over the radio was a baseball game in 1921. The first game shown on television was a college baseball game between Princeton and Columbia in 1939. NBC aired the first professional football game later that same fall. In 1931, hockey was presented on Canadian radio featuring the Maple Leafs. A countrywide broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada was in place by the end of the 1933-1934 season. The first television broadcast of hockey premiered in October 1952. Hockey is consistently one of the highest rated programs in Canada, while the National Football League's Super Bowl is one of the highest rated sports broadcasts in the United States.

    Benefits

    • Sports broadcasting allows fans to watch and hear the game when they aren't able to see it live. Some fans can't afford to attend the game because of ticket prices or the distance from their home, but they can watch on television or listen to the radio. Following a sports broadcast enables fans to watch several games or races in one day. Take, for example, the college football season. Games begin by noon and continue for 12 hours. Fans can watch three or four games because of sports broadcasting. Another benefit of sports broadcasting is having a good seat for the play. At stadiums, it's difficult to see every play of the game, but on a sports broadcast you can catch the play and sometimes a replay.

    Types

    • There are various networks and stations providing sports coverage. ESPN is the largest sports broadcast network in the United States, with around-the-clock broadcasting dedicated to sports coverage. There are several channels within the ESPN family. Other stations are dedicated to only one sport such as NBA TV, which showcases basketball, and The Golf Channel, which features golf events. Some of the world's most recognizable teams and clubs feature their own channel, such as the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network or Manchester United TV. Sports broadcasting takes place on all the major networks at some point during the week. Some cable outlets such as TNT, TBS and USA cover major sporting events.

    Jobs

    • Working as a sports broadcaster or for a sports broadcast requires unusual hours. Members of the media outlet must watch or attend the game and report on the outcome. Many games take place during the evening or on weekends. Some radio broadcast jobs to consider include sports talk show host, play-by-play or commentator jobs, or producer for a sports show. A few television broadcast jobs to consider include sports reporter or anchor, sports analyst or commentary jobs, or producer or director for a sports broadcast.

    Expert Insight

    • Sports broadcasting tells the story of what happened during the game or race. It does not offer the opinion of the reporter. Sports broadcasters must be unbiased even if their favorite team is playing. Sports broadcasters often begin their careers with an internship at a television or radio station in the sports department. They gain hands-on experience working in smaller media markets, but the pay in these markets is often minimal.