Cathal Dennehy: Dystopian future of sport without leaving the sofa edges closer

Viewers fill momentary voids with podcasts, Netflix documentaries or scrolling news or clips on social media, the algorithm knowing what we like and force-feeding it – anything to stop us looking away

SURFING: For those willing to navigate iffy pop-ups, most major events can now be watched a la carte, and attempts to stop illegal streaming have been unsuccessful.

The year is 2040, and you’re in your Saturday afternoon living room. Rather than maintaining relationships with actual humans or doing whatever it is sporting agnostics do at weekends, you settle in for a gluttonous day of live sport.

There’s Six Nations, Premier League, GAA National League and racing from Leopardstown in the afternoon – take your pick – then URC, African Cup of Nations and some fight between two lads you kind of heard of in the evening.