Change in the physical forms of media or sports news services.
The media or news industry has undergone a massive makeover over the past several years. From stiff collared news readers and reporters to blue and boring sets, to repetitive show formats all have seen a tremendous amount of change. Along with the formats the entire physical appearance of shows has undergone makeovers. As older and more established media networks have revamped their look, there are a variety of new channels or news sites which have sprouted to meet the needs of the constant requirement for news, whether it is in the field of current affairs, news, entertainment or physical activities like sports.
Sports networks have emerged as one of the most significant segments of the media industry. Sports enthusiasts from all around the globe are searching for a daily feed of news and information in connection with the number of sports that are being played around the world. Sports, too, as being a physical activity has evolved and has gained a wider reach owing to the network of the media or news providers.
These days it is not only the conventional sports including baseball, football, basketball, rugby etc which are popular but unconventional sports as action sports such as surfing, skateboarding, rock and mountain climbing, bungee jumping, sky diving etc have also found their fan base. There are a number of people who practice and take part in these adrenalin pumping extreme sports, thus increasing its popularity and encouraging several media and news networks to come up and cover these events.
Fantasy sports, too, are some of the offshoots of this media change. With the internet transforming into a popular source of entertainment, physical sports have been translated into virtual games in the form of fantasy sports. Now, people have the ability to play their favorite games that are modeled around the lines of professional sports including football, baseball, basketball, cricket etc. These games have global championships that are played mirroring the game pattern that the sport is founded on.
So like MLB baseball has 162 games being played in one season, fantasy baseball too has 162 games that shall be played through the MLB season. Two media networks that have become extremely popular in the fantasy games circuit are ESPN and Yahoo Sports. These two networks provide all of the news, games statistics, scores and player as well as team standings. ESPN network even comes up with a fantasy sports newsletter that covers all of the action from this sports world.
ESPN has additionally taken the initiative of getting X Games popular. X Games are series major action sports championships that are organized and broadcast by ESPN. These games began in 1995 and also have gained its group of fans since.
Owing to the diversities in the games there are two championships held every year; one during summer and one during winter covering the summer and winter sports categories respectively. The participants vie for that gold, silver and bronze medals along with the prize money award. ESPN has been the live broadcaster of such games and can be regarded as as pioneers on this genre of sports broadcasting.