🏏 Cricket commentary shows becoming their own genre of entertainment lately

Noticed myself watching entire pre match and post match discussion shows lately almost as much as the actual cricket matches themselves, which genuinely surprised me a little once I actually paused to think about how much specific total time I have been spending on commentary and analysis content compared to the actual live sport being discussed. These shows have genuinely evolved considerably beyond simple basic analysis into something closer to their own distinct entertainment format entirely, specific recurring personalities with well established comedic dynamics between them, running jokes that regular viewers clearly recognize and specifically look forward to, occasional genuinely heated but entertaining disagreements between analysts that feel almost scripted at times even when they probably genuinely are not. A particular panel discussing yesterday's match spent nearly ten full minutes on what was honestly a fairly minor tactical decision, but made it genuinely compelling television regardless purely through the specific back and forth banter and clearly established personalities involved in that particular extended discussion, rather than through any actual deep tactical insight offered. This makes we wonder whether some viewers, myself included on certain evenings honestly, are now watching these particular shows partly for their own specific entertainment value independent of the actual cricket content itself being discussed, similar to how some people watch late night talk shows less for whatever specific guest happens to be featured that night and more for the host's own established, familiar comedic style and delivery. My father, a genuinely lifelong serious cricket purist himself, finds this whole entire trend mildly concerning, arguing it dilutes actual serious cricket analysis into something closer to pure entertainment content, though he admittedly still watches these same specific shows himself fairly regularly despite that particular stated objection to the format generally. Has this genre genuinely become its own distinct thing worth watching independently now, separate from the actual cricket itself being discussed, or is this simply me personally overthinking a format that has honestly always worked this exact same specific way for a long time already?

People seem to have started treating the pre match show as its own separate program entirely, distinct from the actual match, the same way a good movie review can be entertaining whether or not you ever watch the film being reviewed at all afterward yourself. The commentary has quietly become the actual product for some viewers watching at home most weekends.