In English

The Costly Race for TV Sports: How the Sports Media Market Tests Finnish Broadcasters and Cultural Citizenship

Athletics European Championships in Helsinki, 1971. People watch the competitions through a window of a television store. Photo: Helsinki City Museum.
Athletics European Championships, Helsinki 1971. Spectators gather outside a television shop to watch the competitions through its window. Kari Hakli, Helsinki City Museum.

This project examines the evolution of Finnish sports broadcasting from the 1950s to the present day. We explore critical questions regarding why media companies have acquired sports content, what factors have shaped their TV sports programming decisions, and how their actions have reflected the idea of cultural citizenship. By addressing these themes, the project sheds light on both the historical development of Finnish TV sports and the ongoing transformation of the sports media market.

The three-year project is generously supported by funding from the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation.