The media or news industry has undergone a huge makeover during the last several years. From stiff collared news readers and reporters to blue and boring sets, to repetitive show formats all have experienced an enormous level of change. Together with the formats the entire physical aspect of shows has undergone makeovers. As older and much more established media networks have revamped their look, there are a number of brand new channels or news sites which have sprouted to meet the needs of the ceaseless demand for news, be it in the field of current affairs, news, entertainment or physical activities such as sports.
Sports networks have emerged as among the most important segments of the media industry. Sports enthusiasts from all around the globe are looking for a daily feed of news and information in connection with the variety of sports which are being played around the world. Sports, too, as being a physical activity has evolved and has now gained a wider reach due to the network of the media or news providers.
These days it is not just the conventional sports such as baseball, football, basketball, rugby etc which are popular but unconventional sports as action sports such as surfing, skateboarding, rock and rock climbing, bungee jumping, sky diving etc have likewise found their fan base. There are a number of people who practice and participate 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 including football, baseball, basketball, cricket etc. These games have global championships that are played mirroring the overall game pattern which the sport is based on.
So like MLB baseball has 162 games being played in one season, fantasy baseball too has 162 games that will be played through the MLB season. Two media networks that have become very popular in the fantasy games circuit are ESPN and Yahoo Sports. Both of these 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 out of 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 have gained its group of fans since.
Due to the diversities within the games there are two championships held each year; one during summer the other 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 these games and can be considered as pioneers in this genre of sports broadcasting.
