The Role of Media in the Economy and Sustainable Development of Sports in Iran

The media plays a significant role in the economy and the sustainable development of sports. The purpose of this article was to investigate the role of the media in the economy and sustainable development of sports in Iran. This study adopts a qualitative research approach based on the type of data used and employs an analytical review method based on the depth of the study. To collect data, keywords such as media, sports, sports development, sustainable development in sports, sports economics, sports marketing, and social media were searched across research platforms, including Google Scholar, SID, and MagIran. A total of 15 articles were selected and analyzed based on their relevance to the research topic.

The findings indicate that media advertising, broadcasting rights, appropriate media coverage, sponsor attraction, and the use of new digital technologies to enhance the appeal of sports are among the key analytical propositions derived from the review of studies related to the role of media in the sports economy. Additionally, the media's role in promoting sports culture, increasing public awareness, fostering identity, and creating successful sports models emerged as significant analytical propositions related to the sustainable development of sports.

Based on the findings, the type and extent of news coverage, as well as the content provided by the media, can significantly influence the sports economy and sustainable development in sports. However, the review of studies revealed that the issue of television broadcasting rights remains one of the main challenges for the media in Iran to effectively impact the sports economy and sustainable development. Consequently, in this regard, the media has not been able to fully leverage its potential to influence the sports economy and sustainable development in Iran. Therefore, it is recommended that legislators closely monitor the implementation of media broadcasting rights in accordance with Article 78, Paragraph A, of the Seventh National Development Plan.