Displaced and Diminished: How the Placemaking Value of “Being there” Influences Play-By-Play Broadcasters’ Professional Identity

Abstract

Play-by-play (PxP) broadcasters’ routines and professions are in a state of flux. Even before COVID-19 protocols disrupted PxPs’ professional practices, broadcast networks tried to reduce on-site staff to cut costs. After COVID, some teams and networks opted to not send PxPs on the road while others experimented with artificial intelligence or alternative telecasts (e.g., the “Manningcast”). Whereas alternative broadcasts create innovative entertainment, PxPs continue to serve an important and distinct role in sports broadcasts, and often act as the link between teams, fans, and other stakeholders. Interviews with 15 professional PxPs revealed that placemaking processes are a key element of their professional identity. Displacement during the pandemic led to shortterm, yet rapid changes, and potentially long-term effects on their profession. We found that while our study’s timeframe enabled a dissection of pandemic-related obstacles, it ultimately articulated PxPs’ professional uniqueness and speaks to how placemaking influences PxPs’ professional identity. Constraints stemming from COVID-19 protocols reinforced that physical proximity is paramount to the PxP profession, and while temporary shocks can be absorbed, prolonged changes to foundational aspects could negatively alter the profession and those it serves.