The Interactions Between Media, Sports, and Entertainment, as Well as How Media Affects Sports Participation, Management, and Consumption

Sports and gaming are essential components of contemporary entertainment (Hutchins, 2011). There is no other type of entertainment in the market that provides the real-time aspect and the anxiousness induced by watching the games. Because of this, sports have amassed a massive following and level of participation from fans, sports authorities, and players (Jarvie 2013). The evolution of sports culture has been considerably aided by the media. It has made it possible for the fan base to grow, informed supporters about the teams and their administration, and improved communication between fans in other nations. Social media such as the 140 character Tweeter, Facebook, Instagram among others have even devolved the interactions from organizations to teams and players (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). The relationship between sports and media can and the implications on entertainment cannot be assumed.
Relationship between Media, Sports, and Entertainment
The number of people entertained primarily by sports has substantially increased today courtesy of the media that has relentlessly given updates and allowed for a live follow-up of the sessions despite the location of the fans (Vogan, 2015). The geographical barriers have been breached, and fans are always on par with the information they need to know. Through the various communication platforms available, football fans, for example, have been able to trace the changes taking place within the team, transfer of players, the input of the team management and even air their views (Goldblatt, 2008, a). Moreover, the media receives a tribute for the immense growth in the sports industry. Through airing of games and advertisement of such events, many people formerly not fans of games have developed interest. Some of these people have turned out to be sponsors for the various teams and others even players (Rowe, 2003). It is notable that today even children can mention a few football players in the English Premier League (EPL); a trend that was non-existent some time back.
The sports management and the teams have not been left behind in the gaining chain. The increased awareness of games and their venues has seen a proportional turn up of fans at such events a fact that has accumulated more revenue through tickets and even allegiance fee from some of the fans (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). The teams have also been able to enroll skillful and talented players who have changed the face of the games. Additionally, the management of various teams has been able to accommodate the views of their followers; a move that has made the fans more enthusiastic about their teams (Hutchins, 2011). Consequently, the fans have shown commitment, dedication, and passion for the games and even developed an attachment to particular players (Jarvie, 2013). Many business investors have been attracted to well-performing teams and have pumped money that has enabled the teams to engage in higher quartile competitions and give better pay to the players which have been a motivating factor for the players.
Furthermore, the players have been accorded more exposure of the options within the sports industry enabling them to make sound decisions (Vogan, 2015). With several sponsors and teams out to grab players, only informed players could land into the teams of their choice. The media has provided adequate information through the newspapers, magazines, television shows and the social media platform on teams, their terms, and performance. The players are therefore not at a loss of choosing a team that is best suited for them (Rowe, 2003). Besides, sponsors have been able to isolate financially challenged players to help them achieve their dreams that would otherwise dwindle (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). The teams have also established academies and clubs across the world to tap and nurture talent following their identification of potential marred with challenges in given areas (Vogan, 2015). Moreover, organizations such as Sports Management Entertainment Agency (SMEA) have come to the aid of players who could be having personal challenges to advise and accord the necessary assistance.
Despite the fact that the sports industry has gained a lot from the efforts of media broadcast and the digital platforms, the media and the digital arenas stand to benefit as well (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). Ball games such as volleyball, football, and basketball have teams that have sponsored columns and pages in the dailies to advocate for their interests. Fans have also been moved to buy the newspapers and magazines that carry updates on the games to which they subscribe (Goldblatt, 2008, b). It has seen the sales made by the media corporations improve hence boosting the business. International events such as the Olympics, World Cup Competitions, and Commonwealth Games among others have helped to increase the number of persons subscribing to the social media platforms or the television channels. Some of the records in tweets and Facebook chats have been enlisted from such events (Hutchins, 2011). Therefore, it comes out clearly that sports and media are interdependent and each has an impact on the other.
Impact of Media on Football and Athletics
Football and athletics are some of the games that have a wild following as well as an established form of management (Goldblatt, 2008, b). The advancement in the media sector has brought in several reforms in the way the games are played, administered and consumed. Teams have diversified their players, administrators have come up with better ways of managing the games, and the fans have responded differently to the games (Jarvie, 2013). To start with, football is among the world's favorite games that traces its origin back to ages ago although modern football began in the 19th century with the formation of Football Association in England. The game had ruled from the beginning that advocated for the use of legs, feet, back and shoulders to counteract a few opponents and head for a target (Goldblatt, 2008, a). The spectators were to be present at the venue of the game to offer support to their team. Moreover, the games were merely a source of entertainment and an evaluation of skills. Today, several things in the world of football have changed (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). The changes are due to the technological advances and also the result of the increased use of media in reporting and advertisement of the games.
The rules of football have been changed and modified to accommodate the dynamics of the sports industry following the publicity created by the media (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). The former players of football used to dress in pants and put on flat shoes. That has since changed to shorts and treaded shoes and even to more defined football attire (Goldblatt, 2008, a). Teams are out to obtain the smartest, comfortable and most expensive uniform for the players to earn the credit of being the richest teams in the face of the public. Other rules such as pass-back rule and the golden goal have been introduced into the games through the media (Rowe, 2003). These rules have to change the nature of the games since the players are compelled to adhere to them, and the fans eagerly await their application since they add taste to the games. The modifications made to the timelines and order of playing the games has not only made the games more captivating but also increased their quality.
The motive behind watching football was for entertainment purposes, but this has changed. People today watch football as a means of relieving stress especially for those that have family or relationship challenges (Jarvie, 2013). Football creates an environment that tends to make them forget about their immediate problems and enter a moment of anticipation and curiosity. Additionally, with the blooming of the betting companies, most people watch football to be enlightened on the teams and to make better options when betting (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). The same has derailed the quality of entertainment accrued from the games as the fans are no longer attached to a given team but any that will see them win in their gambling endeavors. Some of the fans have also gone from enjoying the games as they are played but keeping track of individual players a factor that has shuttered team allegiance (Rowe, 2003). To many, football is no longer what it used to be but a game to be watched to make money or when you feel like instead of when you should.
The media has substantially helped shape the quality of football in the modern society. New playing tactics and skills have found their way into the industry (Goldblatt, 2008, b). Teams have been able to trace and outsource for qualified coaches and talented players from across the world through the help of the media services. This step has ensured that not anybody gets into the fields to kick the ball but only the qualified which makes the games more organized and interesting (Jarvie, 2013). Besides, the team coaches and players have settled on long-term contracts which have acted a source of employment. The improved quality of the games has been a point of attraction to the investors and the government which has heavily invested in the industry (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). The funds given by the investors have been used to pursue technological advances and initiate their application in the games, secure better pay for the players, coaches, and management. The social media provides an avenue upon which the players and the fans can interact. It boosts the self-esteem of the players and translates to the quality of the game they play.
The media has also impacted on athletics in a mighty way. The media has enlightened the members of the public of the many track and field events that they were oblivious about (Hutchins, 2011). Most of the fans of athletics always assume it encompasses only track games ignoring the field games such as high jump, javelin, discus, shot put among others. For this reason, the events have witnessed increased participation at different levels and increased interception of the sponsors to these events (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). The media has also enabled to the satisfaction of the quest of the fans for the major athletic events such as Olympics and Commonwealth games have been aired live and can be followed by the spectators. The media has been an effective source of education and training to the athletes (Rowe, 2003). YouTube and other forms visual social media have endowed some of the athletes with skills that have seen them emerge as champions in the event they take part in.
Some countries have reaped significantly from the role the media plays in the advertisement of athletics. Countries with well-built stadiums and adequate natural scenes that allow for cross-country, skiing, skating among others have been able to advertise this through the media and they have had the upper hand in hosting the major events such as the Olympics (Hutchins & Rowe, 2009). From these events, a lot of revenue has been earned that is used for the development of the countries. These countries have also identified their potential of participating in various events through the trials they made (Jarvie, 2013). There has also been recorded a surge in love for the games following such events among the citizens of the countries and the athletes taking part in the games.
However, the media has breached the privacy of most athletes and other players to the point of causing them a distraction and decreasing the quality of their performance (Rowe, 2003). The media in its endeavor to target the interest of the public has made speculations about games and players thus affecting the outcome. Sentiments made by the journalists about given players have at times pushed them to the edge of overconfidence resulting into poor performance (Jarvie, 2013). Otherwise, some of the statements have also discouraged the sportspersons making them develop cognitive anxiety which is one of the main causes of distraction to the players (Goldblatt, 2008, a). Administrators of the games together with countries sponsoring athletes have always been forced to advise the media to shun from such speculations that raise the expectations of the players and fans but ends up crashing them.
Conclusion
The media plays a significant role as to how the games are played, managed, relayed to the fans and the results thereof. The implications are grave as they may develop or demolish the face of the sport. In this chain of interdependence, both parties stand a chance to lose or gain. Therefore, judicious use of the media should be advocated for to help grow the sports industry.








References
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Hutchins, B., & Rowe, D. (2009). From Broadcast Society to Digital Plenitude: The Changing Dynamics of the Media Sport Content Economy. Television and New Media, 10(4), 354-370.
Jarvie, G. (2013). Sport, Culture and Society: An introduction. Routledge.
Rowe, D. (2003). Sport, culture & media: The unruly trinity. McGraw Hill Education (UK).
Vogan, T. (2015). ESPN: The making of a sports media empire. Urbana, Chicago, and Springfield, University of Illinois Press.