With 2.5 billion fans across the globe, cricket is one of the most popular sport. The craze for the sports is unbelievable. Every youngster in the cricket-playing nations imagines themselves as their sporting heroes in the mirrors. The game gets more attention with some exciting live coverage along with some crunchy news. Have you ever wondered does the women’s cricket experience is the same in terms of media coverage and limelight?
Media, being the fourth pillar of democracy often dump themselves in discrimination as the women cricket sufferers sometimes due to lack of coverage. Media is one of the biggest reasons to grab fans’ interest, often failing to deliver in women’s cricket. There is a huge gap within media and women’s cricket which needs to be looked after to give more pushes to this interesting format of the game.
Inadequate Amount of Live Telecast in Digital Media:
Cricket or any other sport garners attention if it serves a hot topic fast. The fans can’t cross the boundaries to witness a game live. In that matter, live telecast is the go-to option for everyone. In the era of modern technology and digital media, it is not impossible at all. But women’s cricket faced this issue the most. The way we can experience the thrills of the Ranji trophy can we experience the thrilling encounters in the Senior Women’s Trophy in India? The concern should be raised over here.
As the world became progressive, women’s cricket started to take notable turns which worked on behalf of their development. Since the beginning, this side of cricket improved a lot but a major concern remains the same as it was before. Live media coverage and Women’s cricket both have a huge gap between them. That has become a big issue that is making an impact on many other prospects.
The absence of broadcast coverage in women’s cricket hampers the sport’s visibility and growth. This limited exposure negatively impacts fan engagement and reduces sponsorship and advertising opportunities. To tackle this issue, significant investment in media rights and broadcasting infrastructure is essential. Such efforts will enhance the visibility and accessibility of women’s cricket, promoting its development and encouraging more participation.
Huge Difference in Social Media Engagement:
Nowadays, the entire world is within a 6-inch screen. From trolling to personal branding, social media is a useful weapon to use. In the cricketing world, social media is a big thing in terms of media engagement and spreading fan engagement, popularizing women’s cricket, and cutting off the massive gap.
The differences in social media engagement between women’s and men’s cricket are stark. Women’s cricket sees only half the engagement compared to its male counterpart. Men’s cricket has ten times more followers. This disparity highlights the lack of attention and support for women’s cricket, reflecting a broader bias in media coverage.
Mainstream media often prioritizes men’s achievements, overshadowing the successes of women cricketers. This unequal promotion limits visibility and opportunities for female players. To foster a more inclusive environment for women’s cricket, it is essential to address these disparities in social media engagement. By promoting equal visibility and recognition, we can enhance the sport’s popularity and growth, ensuring that women cricketers receive the support they deserve.
Do We Get Proper Analysis and Interactive Sessions in Women’s Cricket Tournaments?
Cricket is an exciting game, it is a widely known fact. But there are a lot more things that make the game more interesting. Weather expert analysis or some engaging talk shows. The broadcasting media organizes those kinds of programs starring some cricket icons. The experts present some engaging stats of the players adding some fan involvement. The fans are more attached to this.
Women’s cricket is lagging behind here. There is some engaging content in big women’s cricket tournaments but there is a major part of it that is still under the covers. Underrepresentation in commentary and analysis is a major issue in women’s cricket. Female cricketers often receive less attention, which can hinder the sport’s growth and development. In some cases, broadcasts even cut short the coverage of women’s matches, further marginalizing their presence in the sport.
Media organizations must strive for balanced representation in commentary and analysis for both men’s and women’s cricket. By allocating equal airtime to women’s games, they can help challenge existing stereotypes and biases. This commitment to fair coverage is essential for fostering a more inclusive environment and promoting the recognition that women cricketers deserve.
Even the Print Media Doesn’t Show Much Affection:
We often trigger the gap between women’s cricket and digital media. But are print media really endorsing women’s cricket with all their intensity? We don’t have any justifying answers as there are some big concerns. After scoring a century, Joe Root secured the front page of any newspaper but will it happen when Heather Knight does the same? In World Cricket if we ask somebody who wears Jersey number 18, the answer will be Virat Kohli. But Smriti Mandhana also wears 18 no jersey. Here the gap is lying.
Newspapers and magazines often overlook the achievements and progress of female cricketers. While some expert articles can highlight significant milestones, this level of coverage is still lacking for women’s cricket. This oversight weakens the overall discussion and understanding of the sport among fans and potential supporters.
To address this issue, media outlets should actively include female cricket experts as commentators and analysts. This inclusion would enhance the quality of commentary and provide valuable insights into women’s cricket. Additionally, print media should prioritize featuring women’s cricket stories and achievements, helping to elevate the sport’s profile. By committing to equal representation, the media can foster a more comprehensive and informed conversation about women’s cricket, ultimately promoting its growth and recognition.
Not a Rival of Men’s Cricket But Seeking the Similar Limelight:
People often misjudge women’s cricket as they are aiming to be a competitor of men’s cricket. But this is completely wrong. Women’s Cricket is another part of any other cricket-playing nation’s side who can make them proud equally. If we compare women’s cricket from the beginning, the aspects have been changed a lot, a lot of improvements come in recent years but a long way to go.
To popularize and spread more awareness, media is the most useful weapon. The way they cover the men’s cricket if they cover the women’s cricket as well, they will expand into more ways. We have found some incredible women cricket superstars but some could even surpass them if they get proper limelight. This side of the game holds a lot of miraculous thing which will grab the attention if it gets proper exposure.
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