How to Get into Sports Broadcasting with Be On Air
The possibilities for career opportunities in sports broadcasting are endless. Many programs showcase different elements; however, Be On Air offers its students a dynamic diploma that helps them prepare for a successful career in sports broadcasting.
What is Sports Broadcasting?
Sports broadcasting is a broad field with many elements that play a massive part in the sporting industry. Sports broadcasters can also be called sports commentators, anchors, announcers, or sportscasters. These terms are often interchanged depending on the preferred term of a sport, media outlet, or league.
An individual pursuing a passion for sports broadcasting is entering a vibrant career. Their role is critical because they provide an audience with an experience throughout the game as if they were in person. Therefore, they must have a vast understanding of the specific sports they’re covering, the rules, regulations, strategies, and potentially the history of the team or sport.
As a sports broadcaster, you may have the opportunity to provide coverage and analysis through multiple media channels, including TV, radio, or online. Additionally, within sports broadcasting, you have the potential to cover a wide range of sports, including major or minor league baseball, basketball, football, tennis, golf, cycling, the Olympics, college sports, or high school sports. Certain sports broadcasters potentially pick a specific area to specialize in, such as the NFL or NBA, but others might have a broader scope of sports that they pursue, such as local high school or college teams.
What is the Role of a Sports Broadcaster
Within sports broadcasting, an individual is responsible for many different elements, including:
- Reporting play-by-play commentary of the sporting event as it’s taking place
- Presenting an evaluation of a team’s performance from an offensive or defensive perspective
- Providing analysis of specific athletes, including their accomplishments, setbacks, gameplays, and injuries
- Delivering an assessment of a team, including matches, standings, or rankings
- Interviewing coaches, players, or support staff
- Covering breaking news of players, games, coaching staff, or sports
- For example, if there is a significant trade deal taking place or if a specific player is drafted as number one by a team
- Helping viewers gain a more comprehensive understanding of a sport
- Organizing and hosting a radio show with special guests
- Assist with pre-game or post-game shows, which can include matchup previews, an analysis of a team’s dynamics/season, or reactions
- Providing viewers with analysis and commentary to keep viewership up throughout the game
- Collaborating with a production team to ensure a seamless broadcasting experience for viewers
How to Become a Sports Broadcaster
Pursuing a formal diploma or degree program will set you up on the right track if you’re looking to open the doors to a dynamic career in sports broadcasting. Be On Air, for example, offers a six-month program* that will provide you with hands-on training, experiences, and a clear understanding of the sporting industry’s operations. Their program covers sports writing and journalism, sports talk theory, sports radio production, remote coverage and play-by-play, live remote production, sports video production, live video production, and a sports broadcasting engineering capstone. Often, especially when you’re not in the industry, a demo tape is essential. Be On Air’s sports broadcasting diploma will allow you the opportunity to develop a demo tape during the capstone project. The costs of programs can vary depending on the type of education you pursue; however, many programs, such as Be On Air, can provide financial assistance for those who qualify.
Besides receiving a sports broadcasting education, gaining experience is essential to help you build your skills and boost your resume. If you have the opportunity, participating in extracurricular activities or volunteering can help make your portfolio as a sports broadcaster candidate stand out. Ensure you have a vast understanding of the rules and regulations of any sport you want to pursue within sports broadcasting and observe other sports broadcasters to learn from them. In the interim, if you want to pursue large-scale roles, apply for local news or radio stations to boost your skillsets and learn what goes on behind the scenes. After receiving an education and working with a local media outlet, you may consider hiring an agent to help you secure a more significant role within a network.
Essential Skills for Sports Broadcasting
No matter how you get into sports broadcasting, having these essential skills will help you thrive within the industry:
Public Speaking: Your ultimate responsibility in sports broadcasting is communicating; therefore, developing your public speaking skills and investing the time to learn how to captivate an audience through your words is essential.
Sports Expertise: A deep technical understanding of the rules and regulations within each type of sport can help you stand out. Mastering the fundamentals will improve your employability if you’re unfamiliar with a particular sport.
Writing: Even though most sports broadcasting takes place in a live scenario, most sports broadcasters will develop some remarks, stats, or questions prior.
Interpersonal Skills: As a sports broadcaster, you will often collaborate with teams, co-workers, audiences, and support staff; therefore, maintaining a positive attitude and building rapport throughout the industry will help you become trusted and keep individuals engaged.
Career Opportunities
Sports broadcasting has many opportunities depending on your area of interest. Salary ranges will vary depending on the role’s location, your role type, and the years of experience within the field. Some of those career opportunities include:
Play-by-Play Announcers: In this type of sports broadcasting, an individual provides live, detailed descriptions of the action during a game.
Sideline Reporters: In sports broadcasting, a sideline reporter is often located very close to the action of a game and provides on-the-ground updates, interviews, or insights throughout the sporting event.
Studio Hosts: Often considered to be the pre-game, halftime, or post-game host that takes place in a studio setting. They often facilitate discussions with an analyst, former players of the sports, and sports industry-leading experts.
Radio Broadcasters: A dynamic role of a sports broadcaster is that of those who select only to provide live sports coverage through audio. As a radio broadcaster, you provide play-by-play commentary, describe the action, and convey the tone of a game with vivid language or sound effects.
Benefits of a Sports Broadcasting Program through Be On Air
Participating in Be On Air’s sports broadcasting program can benefit you greatly throughout the program. Their program offers you the opportunity to:
- Develop your skills in sports broadcasting in a unique laboratory setting, where you can work in media studios and internet radio stations.
- Gain hands-on experience through internship programs and exclusive media collaborations with local radio stations, TV stations, and production facilities across a network of seven schools.
- Learn in real-time through a curriculum that provides an immersive experience, including project-based media production and entertainment courses.
- Advance your skills by learning from instructors with actual media experience.
- Gain assistance with jump-starting your career in sports broadcasting by getting support with resume writing, interview prep, and a network of alumni.
- Adapt with a program that stays up to date with the sports broadcasting trends to ensure all their students receive a competitive edge.
Start Today
Ready to begin your career in sports broadcasting? Be On Air’s program equips you with the cutting-edge education and skills needed to succeed in this dynamic industry, keeping you ahead of the latest trends. Act and start exploring the sports broadcasting program today.
Resources/Additional Information
* Program length when completed in normal time.
https://beonair.erstaging.site/programs/sports-broadcasting
https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-sports-commentator
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-a-sports-broadcaster
https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-does-sports-broadcaster-do