Technology has altered all forms of entertainment, and sports are no exception. From the first radio broadcast of a sporting event in 1921 to the latest app for viewing a sport on a smartphone, modern technology has managed to enhance the enjoyment of sports. Furthermore, the constant evolution of technology means that the ways to watch sports are continually being added to and improved upon. Next year’s gadgets and services will be better than this year’s. The modern fan has the ability to follow scores or watch a game no matter where they are. As long as they can connect to the Internet or to their cell phone provider, they can keep track of their favorite sports.
Mobility
One of the big ways in which technology has enhanced spectatorship is in the area of mobility. Tablet computers and smartphones are incredibly popular, with 1.6 billion such devices being sold around the world in 2012. These devices have all but eliminated short-term boredom from among those who can afford them. The enjoyment of most sports is in the moment, in the ability to follow along in real time. Major sports organizations such as the NFL, NBA and MLB have recognized this. As a result, there are numerous sports-oriented apps available for the major mobile operating systems. These apps enable fans to keep track of scores and statistics. For some time now, it has even been possible to watch streaming games on mobile devices.
Fan Involvement
Along with more opportunities to watch their favorite sports, if a fan wants to read what a star wide receiver has to say or if they want to see the latest training-camp insider news, they can do it via social media websites. Modern sports have embraced social media wholeheartedly and fans now have the ability to interact with their favorite athletes unlike at any other point in history. They can trash-talk with superstar athletes and be privy to intimate or off-the-cuff commentary. All of this provides fans with a greater opportunity to be involved with their favorite sports along with watching games. This increased degree of personal involvement imbues spectatorship with greater urgency and emotional power.
Greater Variety of Content
Fans have access to a wide range of content-types including:
• Live streaming sports events
• Interviews
• Blooper videos
• Profiles
No matter which sport a fan wants to follow, there is something for them to watch online.
Fantasy Sports
One of the most dramatic changes in the way people watch sports has to do with imaginary sports. Fantasy sports have blossomed on the Internet; it is estimated that 27 million Americans enjoy this pastime. For fantasy sports players, this means the games they watch no longer come down solely to which team wins. This is a fundamental shift in the way team sports have been perceived since the dawn of organized athletic endeavors.
Up until fairly recently, the only model pursued by television broadcasters was to ensure high ratings by scheduling live events. Modern sports fans are no longer limited to live television for games, nor are they restricted to newspapers as their only source of sporting news. Both traditional television and print media have struggled to meet the demand for information with varying degrees of success. One thing is certain, the ways in which fans watch sports will continue to evolve for the foreseeable future.
Sean Poynter is a former college athlete and freelance writer. His work concentrates on the partnership between sports and technology. He spends his free time researching the latest technology news and following his favorite sports teams.
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