The most ingenious feature of the televised yellow line is the way in which if fits into the viewing experience naturally. While watching a game, or highlights such as those above, you are not distracted by the yellow lines. The yellow color is not overpowering and fits in symmetrically with the vertical white lines characteristic of football fields. At the same time, when the first down line becomes part of the game, such as during a close 3rd down conversion, the viewer knows exactly how far needs to be travelled by the offense. This suspense is a major source of excitement for football fans of all ages and knowledge alike. Years of polishing the mechanization behind the yellow line has led networks to strike the perfect balance between fitting into game play and providing information on the offense’s field position when necessary.
To the typical young viewer, a game without the yellow line seems foreign. It is a concept so hammered into collective football conscious that to watch a game without it is a difficult process, even to the experienced fan. Only when watching old game footage does a fan realize the substantial value of an aid for marking first downs. Additionally, it allows one to empathizes with football fans before the yellow line and understand why such a seemingly simple change had such profound impact on sports television. For after the spike in popularity of football, the popularity of other broadcasted sports increased as well.
Many technological innovations are seen as significant due to their scientific or aesthetic value, but the beauty of the yellow line is its simplicity. It is a purely pragmatic addition to the viewing experience. Whereas there are countless overly complicated graphics in televised sports of all kinds, they are usually trends that don’t exhibit the lasting impact of the yellow line. While there is an extremely high level of knowledge and technology behind the yellow line, it is hidden by the line’s simplicity and melded into gameplay.
A true testament to how much of an impact the line has had is the fact that it is being transferred to the physical field of play. Many fans are displeased when they go to games and are not treated with the yellow line they see on television. It certainly makes watching football games live a bit more complicated, especially for newer fans, as one must look to the sidelines before every play to get a feel for distance to go. That stadium designers are currently focused on making the virtual yellow line a real yellow line that will be displayed on the field is a major statement on how the game of American football has been forever altered.
To the typical young viewer, a game without the yellow line seems foreign. It is a concept so hammered into collective football conscious that to watch a game without it is a difficult process, even to the experienced fan. Only when watching old game footage does a fan realize the substantial value of an aid for marking first downs. Additionally, it allows one to empathizes with football fans before the yellow line and understand why such a seemingly simple change had such profound impact on sports television. For after the spike in popularity of football, the popularity of other broadcasted sports increased as well.
Many technological innovations are seen as significant due to their scientific or aesthetic value, but the beauty of the yellow line is its simplicity. It is a purely pragmatic addition to the viewing experience. Whereas there are countless overly complicated graphics in televised sports of all kinds, they are usually trends that don’t exhibit the lasting impact of the yellow line. While there is an extremely high level of knowledge and technology behind the yellow line, it is hidden by the line’s simplicity and melded into gameplay.
A true testament to how much of an impact the line has had is the fact that it is being transferred to the physical field of play. Many fans are displeased when they go to games and are not treated with the yellow line they see on television. It certainly makes watching football games live a bit more complicated, especially for newer fans, as one must look to the sidelines before every play to get a feel for distance to go. That stadium designers are currently focused on making the virtual yellow line a real yellow line that will be displayed on the field is a major statement on how the game of American football has been forever altered.