It cannot be overestimated the influence of television on sports. This is because of the insatiable appetite of the public for sporting events. In reaching this vast market television is by far the preferred medium. Professional athletes on baseball and the occasional boxing match were the main attractions available to a large public prior to the advent of television. For example, no one would have listened to a professional athlete doing golf or a bowling tournament. As a result, this has brought hours of every known sport, from arm wrestling to yachting, into the living rooms of million viewers.

The power of television over sports is based on money. Its influence derives from its visual immediacy. And where does the money comes from? It can be from commercial sponsors, who buy broadcast time from the television companies, television stations and the networks who pay the professional leagues or other organizations for the right to broadcast the events.

The difference between amateur sports to the professional one is the latter get paid and appears on commercials and the television stations are part of that paying body that pays them for their profession. What largely constitutes their role is that they entertain the people and thus having more pay-outs to the television networks itself. They are doing what is called the "give and take" process. While amateur athletes often do not have formal training, may be sub-par or not measuring up to traditional standards of performance, value, or production.

The playing of the games was influenced by the power of the television to create and sustain viewing markets. In some cases to accommodate programming, the rules have been changed. This includes the 20-second rule and the three point basket in the basketball that have not necessarily been mandated by television, but they have been adopted to speed up the game and make it more appealing to viewers. In the case of professional golf, it’s different. The scoring system and the sudden-death play-off were added to stimulate interest in the game. The tie breaker rule was soon adopted by professional athletes in a regular tournament play which was then introduced just to shorten televised tennis match.

Scheduling of games was also being influenced by the television. Baseball has become largely a night game because of television marketing. That’s why your favorite professional athletes have been playing nighttime then blame TV. Except for those who played on weekends, most World Series games are broadcast at night. Making more colorful uniforms, repainted stadiums, television was also being help responsible for this. This prompted team owners to appear more attractive to home viewers. Especially in football, these changes have benefited their professional athletes.

Rules for sports were definitely changed by the television. Folks don’t complain about it but instead they are rejoicing because through TV their favorite teams and also their preferred professional athletes will be much closer to them, just a tip of our fingers. As a result, the era of sports has changed through time and we thank television for speeding it up.