ABSTRACT
The fantasy sport industry is operating in peak form, with 59.3 million North Americans participating in season-long and daily competitions. This industry is full of options, updates, analysis, and information disseminated through a variety of media outlets, including television, satellite and terrestrial radio, podcasts, print media, social media, and other Internet-based platforms. Fantasy sport’s relationship with the media sparked in 1981 with an Inside Sports article titled “The Year George Foster Wasn’t Worth $36.” From this point forward, fantasy sport found its way, overtly and covertly, into the media stream. This chapter focuses on the historical side of fantasy sport and its relationship with the media. Of particular focus will be the entry points for fantasy within the media landscape. Using historical data and writing, along with inside information from industry pioneers, this chapter will outline the way fantasy sport has grown, in part due to and in part in spite of the media.
