The media or news industry has undergone a massive makeover over the past few 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. Along with the formats the entire physical aspect 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 demand for news, whether it is in the area of current affairs, news, entertainment or physical activities such as sports.
Sports networks have emerged as among the most significant segments of the media industry. Sports enthusiasts from all over the world are looking for a regular feed of information and news in connection with the variety of sports that are being played around the world. Sports, too, as being a physical exercise has evolved and has now gained a wider reach owing to the network of the media or news providers.
Nowadays it is not only the conventional sports such as baseball, football, basketball, rugby etc that are popular but unconventional sports as action sports for instance surfing, skateboarding, rock and rock climbing, bungee jumping, sky diving etc have likewise found their group of followers. 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 one 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, everyone has the opportunity to play their favorite games which are modeled on the lines of professional sports including football, baseball, basketball, cricket etc. These games have global championships that happen to be 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 shall be played through the MLB season. Two media networks which are currently 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 along with team standings. ESPN network even comes up with a fantasy sports newsletter that covers all 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 that are organized and broadcast by ESPN. These games began in 1995 and have gained its fan base since.
Owing to the diversities in 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 in this genre of sports broadcasting.