Sports talk. One would assume from these two simple words that whatever will be discussed on the radio station you tuned into will be about sports. Right? Wrong.
In the Handbook of Sports and Media, Haag is quoted saying “sports talk demonstrates an older function of communication, that of concretizing social rather than economic communities.” (125) I agree that sports talk radio is an excellent avenue for fans to express their opinions about sporting situations. Personally, I like that there is a means for us avid followers of a particular team or sport to include our positions. It creates a sense of community and brings together those sharing similar interests. However, as David Theo Goldberg writes in Sports, Talk Radio, and the Death of Democracy, ( http://jss.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/22/2/212 ) past sports radio was mainly concerned with play-by-play, player and team statistics, and the season’s progress, now it seems to center around entertainment and advertising. ESPN radio is filled with so many commercials that you’re only getting about 15 minutes worth of “sports talk” and by sports talk, I mean opinions about politics, religion, or business. Personally, I could care less about anything unrelated to sports. There are too many interruptions and too many reminders that I’m listening to so and so.
It’s not only radio either. According to MediaSport, “The US sports industry is a media-made phenomenon.” (74) Bellamy proceeds to say how television utilizes sports as a way to promote buying and selling. For instance, when ESPN, ABC, and Disney are all under one roof, it becomes a perfect chance to get the word out about your product.
Whether I’m listening to a sports talk show on the radio or watching one on television, I want to hear about the information relevant to the sporting world. Cut back on commercials. Reduce the amount of time used to promote your own show. The hosts don’t need to play the role of stand-up comedian to make the show interesting. I am a sports fan—sports are enough to hold my attention.
I couldn't agree more. Sports are becoming so media-driven, that everywhere you look, there is a sponsor, or a product being sold. It's the best way for advertisers to make a profit. Entertainment sells, and there is no better form of entertainment than sports.
ReplyDeleteAs for sports talk radio, I love it. It's a great way for people to express themselves, and show others just how knowledgeable they are about a topic or topics.
According to the Handbook of Sports and Media, "...radio has played an important role in our nation's love affair with sports. There is evidence to indicate that this symbiotic relationship will continue" (128). I have no doubt that sports talk radio will continue, becuase it gives people a sense of belonging. Being able to drive in the car and listen to someone talk sports is something that many look forward to as a sense of release and escape. Many people don't realize just how vital sports are to society. "The rich tradition of sports coverage on radio lives on today and deserves increased attention from media scholars" (Raney and Bryant, 127).
The problem with sports talk radio today is in fact the amount of commercials and the lack of
"sports talk." I love Mike and Mike, but there are too many commercials. Since it's a popular show, advertisers see it as an opportunity to sell, sell, sell. Hence, a profit. Some shows also discuss too many non-related sports issues. If you're a sports talk radio show, then all talk should be sports related. I don't want to hear about movies in the theatres, or what a senator from California said. I want to hear how many points Derrick Rose scored, and who the best QB in football is. Simple as that
I agree with what both Kyle and Michelle posted in that Sports has become such a media driven industry that you couldn’t turn on a sports event, or even attend one without being bombarded with media sponsors. The entertainment industry and the sports industry almost go hand in hand, and in some instances it almost makes you question what happened to the game and having the focus be on just that.
ReplyDeleteI, myself, have never tuned into Sports radio unless I’ve been in the car with my dad, but I do think that it is a good tradition in both the sports industry and the media industry. I think that sports radio actually is one of the mediums that haven’t been completely taken over by the brands of advertisement. The length of the commercials may be an issue but the fact of the matter is radio cannot survive without advertisements.
Robert Bellamy states in “The Evolving Television Sports Marketplace”, “Brand identification is regarded as a key in leveraging corporate assets and in building audiences loyalty at a time when viewers are now regarded as ‘restless’ and likely to use a remote control device (rcd) to choose among many viewing options,” (73 Bellamy). I agree with the first part of this statement, but disagree with the latter. I don’t think that it builds a loyalty with audiences to their programs, if anything it makes them more restless and tends to drive them to flip channels or stations. I think sports radio should try to steer clear of mentioning anything non-sports related and maybe spread the advertisements throughout the program.
I think you both have hit on some really good points and i must say that i would have to agree with what you're saying. Today everything revolves around money, and in the current economic times, it's no surprise that the sporting world really hasn't skipped a beat. Between large endorsement deals and big contracts for players, the revenue seems never-ending. With the world of sports still being as popular as it is, it should come as no surprise that advertisers invest in it and AM stations that cover it.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, i also agree with what's been said about sports talk radio and how there needs to be less breaks and more talk. Like i said, sports is a huge part of today's society, so advertisers will do whatever it takes to sell their product or get there name out there, which is why you see so many breaks. ANd not only that, but you will catch sponsorships throughout the actually show, not only commercials. For example, on WFAN (NY) they have 20/20 updates throughout the course of the day, and each time it comes up, the person on air would say, "Verizon Wireless sponsors this update..." Advertisers will try and get there name out there as often as they can.
When it comes to sports talk radio, I think that it's absolutely genius. It has become a huge part of society today, it's everywhere. Sports talk radio has evolved drastically over the last 20 years, and I really don't think it could have done so without all its popularity. I think Kyle hit the nail on the head when he brought up how people who listen to it in the car use as a way to escape. It passes the time. It allows us to hear the opinions of other people just like ourselves. We can agree, disagree, yell, or even laugh at them for what we hear. And for those of us who don't like waiting on hold for 25 minutes to get on air, listening to those who do is just as fun.
Along with it's popularity, advancements in technology has also served as a catalyst in the sports talk radio industry. With things such as XM Radio, it now is possible to have a sports talk station completely devoted to one sport. Where 24 hours a day, there is non-stop coverage of your favorite sport. But advertising and the thrill of making money could take it's toll on this as well. According to the Handbook of Sports and Media, "Just as we witnessed the movement of sports programming from broadcast television to cable television, might radio listeners be forced to pay a subscription fee to listen to their favorite team over the airways?" (127). I believe this to be a legitimate concern. If it comes down to people being forced to pay to listen to their favorite team, then radio as a whole could take a big hit.
Overall though, I feel that while sports talk radio can get annoying at times, much more people would prefer to having it stay rather then seeing it go. It serves as a form of communication between the true sport fans and it allows us to interact with not only the person on the air, but the people who call in as well.
- MICHAEL CEA