Change in the actual 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 an enormous amount of change. Together 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 number of new channels or news sites which have sprouted to meet the needs of the constant requirement for news, be it in the area of current affairs, news, entertainment or physical activities like sports.
Sports networks have emerged as among the most significant segments of the media industry. Sports enthusiasts coming from all around the globe are searching for a regular feed of information and news in connection with the number of sports which are being played across the world. Sports, too, as being a physical exercise has evolved and has gained a wider reach due to the network of the media or news providers.
Nowadays it is not just the conventional sports such as baseball, football, basketball, rugby etc which are popular but unconventional sports as action sports for instance surfing, skateboarding, rock and mountain climbing, bungee jumping, sky diving etc have likewise found their fan base. There are a variety 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. Together with the internet becoming 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 on the lines of professional sports such as football, baseball, basketball, cricket etc. These games have global championships that happen to be played mirroring the game pattern that the sport is based 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 very popular in the fantasy games circuit are ESPN and Yahoo Sports. These two networks provide all 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 also taken the initiative of getting X Games popular. X Games are series major action sports championships which are organized and broadcast by ESPN. These games began in 1995 and also have gained its fan base since.
Owing to the diversities within the games there are 2 championships held each year; one during summer the other during winter covering the summer and winter sports categories respectively. The participants vie for the gold, silver and bronze medals together with the prize money award. ESPN continues to be the live broadcaster of such games and can be considered as pioneers on this genre of sports broadcasting.