Impact of television on professional sports Essay Example for Free

Impact of tv set on professional sports tasteIt was in late 1940s and beginning of 1950s that goggle box was introduced to the common people. In the words of Marc and Thompson, marshal McLuhan who was earning the distinction of becoming the first media critic, described television in the 1950s as an electronic hearth, a kind of proto-cyberworld fireplace, around which families were gathering during this new stage of post-industrial existence. (2005, p. 55) Following sports became completely different with the advent of television. straight there was no need to waste entire day to watch ones front-runner game in the stadium or strain ones ears to keep track of the in style(p) happenings in the fields through the radio. Those who had non yet brought this powerful medium of entertainment home apply to be a part of a crowd of people standing in the street in front of an appliance dealership watching TV through the store window. (Marc and Thompson, 2005, p. 53) So people at h omes or as sidewalk audiences started cheering the sportsmen for their efforts that was visible on screen.The television enhanced the status of sports as a social activity that could be viewed at the comfort of homes. It also introduced the masses to different kinds of sports. primarily people were aw are of the sports that were common in their country only. Due to television sportsmen of diverse kinds of sports became household names. goggle box gave the sportsmen, the fame and recognition crossways the continents. This was unimaginable otherwise. Boyle and Haynes observed, today it is difficult to imagine footb any without television or a television schedule bereft of football. (2004, p. 7) This observation is true in a wider context too. Television area has undergone tremendous growth. Hundred of channels all over the world are dedicated to sports, which telecast not only the game but also each and every aspect of the players lives. The top sportsmen enjoy the selfsame(preno minal) fan following and power as the film stars. Where there is maddening fan following and popularity, stinkpot money be behind? The salaries of the top players in all the sports convey soared really high. Its no wonder that popular games like tennis, football, cricket etc.have become businesses in their own right. at that place has been major moneymaking(prenominal)ization of sports since 1950s the advent of television. Talking about football Boyle and Haynes lamented, the increasing influence that television has exercised over the sport and the unhealthy degree to which clubs have become dependant on television income have meant that the economic aspects of the game have become of considerable interest. (2004, p. 8) This pathetic state of affairs can be identified with the economics of other professional sports too.All the different sports can be addressed as different products. The mushrooming of couple leagues in each category of product can be compared to different br ands of that category, which are constantly trying to outdo each other. This competition or war amongst the rival leagues is benefiting them but deteriorating the tenderness of sports. The flow of television money has turned militant balance into competitive imbalance. However Wigglesworth argued, commercialism has evermore been present in sport in one form or another.It may have begun with the bribe of prizes by local tradesmen at holy day recreations and have become more highly unionized in rural sports, often sponsored by publicans. (2007, p. 35) According to Wigglesworth commercialization has helped in the growth of professionalism. This indicates that before 1950s it was impossible to consider sports as a profession because the players were not paid proper salaries. Thus all the players used to dabble with other professions in order to keep their kitchens running.Since the advent of television, sports have been started being prize as one of the well-paid professions and ea ch decade after 1950s has seen a further hike in the players salary. The channel boom in the past decade has made the picture rosier for the players as far as their salaries are mended. Talking about the growth of leagues Wigglesworth observed, money from television coverage and all the associated media opportunities was the spur for the larger clubs to organize themselves into a league (2007, p.129).He further elaborated even cycling clubs have derived commercial benefits from increased television coverage of the sport during the 1980s and 1990s. (2007, p. 132) It is since the 1980s that the television started changing the conventional scenario of sports at a much abundanter pace than ever before. Some of the top rival leagues, which were created in 1960s and 1970s to promote sports, merged sports and media and have even started running their own sport channels, thus taking their rivalry to newer areas.The following statement of Holland paints a gloomy picture of the impact of television on sports As the broadcasting of sport gradually becomes as important as the event itself, there has been growing concern over the adaptation of the sports to suit the needs of television. (2000, p. 138) It is threatening that all the sports event have become a ground of cut throat competition between the satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcasters. To get the exclusive rights of the major sporting events these parties have been bidding higher and higher.This factor has shook competitive balance to a great extent, which has started proving detrimental for the sports on the whole. So to conclude the impact of television has been both good and bad across all sports, whether it is cricket, rugby, boxing, swimming, horse riding tennis etc. It has been most beneficial to the players of popular sports, financially. The creation of rival leagues can be viewed a positive impact but growing unhealthy rivalry amongst them and competitive imbalance has been some of the drawback s of television.In the words of Wigglesworth, One result of the commercialization of sport through television has been the depersonalization of spectator sport with the old fashioned fan becoming simply a customer. (2007, p. 164).References Boyle, R. and Haynes, R. (2004). football In The New Media Age. New York Routledge Holland, P. (2000). The Television Handbook. (2nd ed. ). New York Routledge. Marc, D. and Thompson, R. J. Television In The Antenna Age A Concise History. USA Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Walvin, J. (1978). Leisure and Society. UK Longman. Wigglesworth, N. (2007). The Story Of Sport In England. New York Routledge.