Introduction

Mediated versions of sport are one of the key areas of culture which give us a sense of a lived history. One of the particular appeals of sport, for both the media and supporters, is the extent to which the narratives or stories which surround sport act as a bridge between the present and the past. Sporting events need to have a history and a longevity to feel important. In Australia, international cricket is dominated by the Ashes series with England, a competition given extra impetus by the long rivalry between these two countries. As we argue in Chapter 4, television increasingly helps to create – and at times even invent – this historical dimension for more recent sporting events. However, it is important that we have some historical perspective on the institutional relationship that has evolved between the media and sport, particularly as it is the former that has told the history of sport for much of the twentieth century.