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Sit Down and Cheer

A History of Sport on TV

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Sit Down and Cheer

By: Martin Kelner
Narrated by: Martin Kelner
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About this listen

Television and sport is the ultimate marriage of convenience. The two circled each other warily for a while - sport anxious the sofa-bound might spurn the live product, TV reluctant in a limited channel world to hand over too much screen time to flannelled fools and muddied oafs. But they got together, and stayed together, for the sake of the money, and now you cannot imagine one without the other. They are indivisible, like an old couple sitting in a teashop finishing each other's sentences, and there is little doubt which is the dominant partner. You have only to think of the recent sports stars who have left their muddy fields to don sequins, grab partners and tango their way across the stage in ultimate Saturday night television style, to see how far the two have come on their journey together. In Sit Down and Cheer, Martin Kelner traces the development of this relationship from its humble origins in the 1960 Olympics, by way of the first-ever Match of the Day in 1964, through to the financial impact of Sky, right up to the high-tech gadgetry of our present-day viewing. Insightful and very funny, this is an entertaining exploration of two major national pastimes and not to be missed.

©2012 Martin Kelner (P)2014 Audible Inc.
Media Studies Sports History Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing Funny Basketball
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A fantastic trip down memory lane

I was really looking forward to reading this and it exceeded my high expectations. Great detail from the birth of BBC TV sport until just after the end of Grandstand. The author has a great depth of knowledge and also includes the lighter moments including the escapades of Frank Bough.

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Great but needs updating/ more chapters

In the week we lost Frank Bough it was quite interesting to listen to the excellent Martin Kelner read this. It was published in 2012 so needs a couple of more additional chapters. I’d go for the continued march of Sky, Americanisation of spot in uk and of course VAR ( but that’s probably a book in itself how badly it’s implemented), as well as things like driver view in F1. That said a great book and great to recall the greats of your youth.

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Unarguably the best audible book on sport!

If you could sum up Sit Down and Cheer in three words, what would they be?

Captivating, enjoyable and funny!

What other book might you compare Sit Down and Cheer to, and why?

For me, just as good as David McCullough's Biography of Harry Truman! I say that because both writers are journalists and broadcasters so they understand how to make the written word come alive!

What does Martin Kelner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He is a natural broadcaster!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. But then I have also relistened to it in segments. Just as good!

Any additional comments?

If I want to relax and unwind and think about sport, then this is the 'go to' book for me every time. Unquestionably the best audible book on sport out there! Listened to it a zillion times and I still don't get bored listening to it! Highly recommended!

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