Genealogy of the Sportscast Highlight Form: From Peep Show to Projection to Hot Processor

This paper traces the evolution of the sportscast highlight form from early film through the beginning of television (1894-1955). The highlight form emerged as the dominant technique of sportscasts as a result of the technological, economic and social changes that impacted media systems. Changes in technologies do not provide the entire account of the highlight form's development, so this study explicates the importance of the protocols that express intricate relationships between media producers, sports leagues and organizations, and audiences.