A Changing Landscape: The State of Local Sports Television in Pennsylvania
Open Access
Author:
Gilliland, John Alexander
Area of Honors:
Journalism
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
John Ambrose Dillon, Thesis Supervisor Robert Dwayne Richards, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Pennsylvania Sports Television Markets Broadcast
Abstract:
The following thesis will take a look at the current state of local sports television in Pennsylvania on a market-to-market basis. I will examine the six major sports markets in the state, that being Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, Wilkes-Barre Scranton, Johnstown-Altoona-State College and Erie, in case study format to gain insight into how local television stations are growing, changing and adapting across the commonwealth. In order to accomplish this task, I spoke to news directors, sports anchors, sports reporters and athletic directors within each market to get their take on the industry and where it is headed.
The questions this thesis will attempt to answer are:
• Is there a transition in the way local sports are being covered at television stations?
• Are online content and social media changing the way sports are being covered?
• Given the current state of local sports television in Pennsylvania, what are stations doing to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of this industry?
