344 The Reliability of Television Broadcasting Statistics in Soccer Paul Worsfold and Kirstin Macbeth Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Chester, CH1 4BJ, UK Abstract The aim of this study was to determine if match statistics provided by television companies are a reliable measure of performance. Statistics for six performance indicators were collated from thirty teams over fifteen soccer matches presented by four independent broadcasting companies. Independent post-match analysis was also conducted analyzing the same six performance indicators used by the broadcasting companies. Mean percentage error was calculated for each pair (10 pairs) of observations for each of the six performance indicators. Mean percentage errors above 10% and up to 59.51% were identified between television company statistics and the independent post-match analysis within five out of the six performance indicators assessed. It is possible that different analysis techniques, analyst errors, unclear referee signals and differing operational definitions contributed to the unexpected statistical variations. The study highlights the need for universally accepted performance definitions within soccer. Due to the variability in statistics between companies and the post-match data analysis, viewers and researchers should view television company statistical data with caution and only use the data as a guide to individual, team and match performance and not as an exact measure. Key-words: media, soccer, reliability, measurement error 1. Introduction The media and sport are two very different industries, however due to changes over the past century one is now unimaginable without the other. Sport without commentators, replays, multi- perspectival images, slow motion and the third umpire cannot be contemplated in modern day society (Rowe, 2004). Television broadcasting has increased the interest in soccer and is a major economic factor in the professional game (Shelton, 2003). One aspect the media relies on to attract audiences is the visual drama of movement to the viewers. Television companies therefore produce a sense of rapid movement by using replays to maintain audience interest even when no play is actuality occurring (Rowe, 2004). Therefore what often emerges is a distorted representation of reality (Stead, 2003). The significance of the sports commentator is important, with many viewers‟ recollections of a sporting event being that of the commentary (Midy et al., 2007). The commentator will subjectivity summarise and analyse the match, conveying their opinion upon the viewers‟ whether their comments are indeed knowledgeable or otherwise (Rowe, 2004). In addition to the International Journal of Performance Analysis of Sport 2009, 9, 344-353.