This was in those days courtesy of free to air television but the seeds were sown for greater and greater television involvement and competition to broadcast events with is corresponding financial implications.
Such financial implications have almost certainly been behind the awarding of the FIFA World Cup to Qatar in 2022 as there can be little other reason for such a crazy decision.
The implications of corruption at FIFA have been far reaching and have rocked the governing body.
Three New Zealand franchises in Super Rugby have increasingly become aware of the implications as they face lengthy travel to play their play-off matches regardless of their high position in the table. Again television companies, the paymasters, have influenced the competition format.
The recent announcement of a seemingly exciting Rugby 10s in February is television driven. Only time will tell if this helps the players or the game itself.
Drugs have been in sport since the time of the ancient Olympics but as money has increased so has the temptation to cheat. The determination by WADA to wage war on drugs is to be applauded. It is clear that all sporting bodies need to be vigilant and transparent.
Certainly the need to reform has been noted from IAAF in athletics and hopefully other international governing bodies.
Money was certainly behind the Auckland City Council's cancellation of the New Zealand Secondary School's booking of Mount Smart Stadium to accommodate Coldplay reported previously in my column.
The alternative track at Waitakere in my view brings us to a better venue but this does not alter the angst and delay the original action caused and that this action had money at the root of it.
I have enjoyed the benefits of being able to watch major international events over the last week on television and as I have enjoyed the action unfold, I like others, was able to forget the many aforementioned implications. One thing that has stood out to me over the past fortnight is that at the moment of triumph, any financial gain is not foremost in the athlete's mind.
Chris Froome did not think of money as he raced down the slope of the Col de Peyresourde in the Tour de France to take stage victory and the yellow jersey. Andy Murray was not thinking of the huge financial rewards of winning Wimbledon, nor was the world's highest paid footballer Gareth Bale thinking about money as he joined his lower paid Welsh team mates as they celebrated making the Euro Football semi-finals against all expectations.
In a similar fashion the often petulant and self-centred Christano Ronaldo put away personal injury disappointment to celebrate the unexpected Portugal victory.
The great Bobby Charlton stated that he was fortunate to be paid highly for doing what he loved.
All sportsmen and women started with the same dreams. Whanganui athletes in all sports who train at Cooks Gardens, play at Wembley Park, run the tracks of Virginia Lake, train at grounds throughout the city, swim lengths at the Splash Centre or ride the roads of the region - they all have dreams and hopefully will gain satisfaction and success.
Hopefully they are aware of the pitfalls and retain much of their youthful pleasure and satisfaction. Some might also enjoy financial success.
