The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) introduced the video assistant referee for the 2018 World Cup. By contrast, in Japan instant replay has been used to assist judging sumo matches since 1969. Both of these measures are based on video recording technology, and therefore both can be considered cases of changes in media experience. For this reason, this paper analyzes this transformation from the perspective of media theory.
Historically, many types of replay technologies were developed and replaced in sport broadcasting from 1955 to 1964. In particular, the 1964 Tokyo Olympics is known for introducing slow-motion VTR (Video Tape Recorder) to sport broadcasting. However, there were a variety of replay technologies before VTR. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the process of development and replacement of replay technologies.
This paper is grounded in the theory of the social construction of technology. According to this theory, not only scientists and engineers but also TV producers, announcers and commentators constructed the replay technologies. For its sources this research relies on articles in magazines related to broadcasting technology and culture.
Analysis of these materials reveals that VTR unified varied technological aspects of replay, and some expectations for replay technologies had existed before the development of VTR. These technologies were expected to make sports broadcasts more exciting, and to contribute to audience literacy. VTR was referred to as ‘the mechanical eye’, and it transcended its originally envisaged application when it was incorporated into sumo to assist in judging.
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