No, this isn’t a reference to a National Geographic documentary; rather, it’s a response to the news that Tiger Woods will receive his own channel on ESPN during the British Open. Not to worry though, according to the release, “Other players will be highlighted if Woods does not make it to the weekend.”. Adam Scott and the other 5 golfers who are currently ranked ahead of Tiger Woods in the world rankings will be ecstatic to hear that, I have no doubt. My question is not why ESPN would do this; with their resources, it would be simple to organize the dedicated feed, which would be sure to generate interest. After all, nothing makes ESPN happier than putting famous athletes in their viewers’ subconsciouses (just look at Lebron James and Johnny Football). Which place does it end, I wonder?
It has reached a point where watching a game on television is no longer sufficient due to the emergence of channels devoted solely to fantasy sports and the growing reliance on social media. Regardless of whether their team wins or loses, a certain segment of viewers will watch a sporting event just to join in on the social media craziness. Only gambling can rival the way fantasy sports have continued to put fans’ allegiance to their teams to the test. Sports viewing has grown to be more important than the teams themselves in many ways.
This is true for watching sports in general, not just at home. To keep fans coming to the stadium or arena, teams across the nation are adding features. The day of the game has always included a lot of pre-game activities. This fall, simply visit any college campus on a Saturday to witness the incredible work that goes into the tailgating activities for each game. The after-school programs will no longer end at the stadium gate. The San Jose Mercury News discusses an agreement between the 49ers and Yahoo to establish a fantasy lounge where fans can keep up with other games and stats. The agreement also includes a strategy for fans to be able to upload in-game images with a chance to see their creations on a big screen. This pleases both the ardent sports fan, for whom the outcome of a related game is everything, and the casual fan, who loves nothing more than to demonstrate their photographic prowess in front of 60,000 or more spectators. For any sports team, engagement must be achieved through any means.
Will we ever reach the point where players are equipped with cameras, allowing viewers to select their favorite player’s perspective to follow? Perhaps we can attach a camera to the ball itself so that we can observe it as it goes through the basket or is abruptly swatted away by a defender.
It is simple to forget that sports organizations are ultimately businesses with significant financial ramifications dependent on the consumption of their product. However, it appears as though the evolution of sports viewing is determined to accommodate those who prefer the entire experience, and this is just the beginning. The true fan will continue to be a fan of the sport regardless of the viewing enhancements.