ABSTRACT
One of the key themes of this collection is that the sports broadcasting landscape is in a state of ‘flux’ due to the expansion of new digital technologies and the convergence of telecommunication, internet, and broadcasting sectors. Against the backdrop of digitization and deregulation, deep-pocketed pay-TV networks are investing enormous resources to secure subscribers by purchasing the exclusive rights to various sporting properties that are now frequently bundled by sports cartels into multi-platform packages (e.g., pay-TV, free-to-air, and digital/online rights). All of these developments have, of course, radically expanded the viewing options of sports fans. The explosive growth of sports broadcasting rights packages in the digital era has, moreover, also provided unprecedented amounts of revenue for various governing bodies, teams, and leagues around the world; this is revenue that has fuelled the remarkable growth of the salaries of professional athletes in recent years.
