Scraping live sports data for TV graphics (Python)

Scraping is the last resort - but often the only one when a source has no API. The goal is a stable, predictable output the graphics can read.

while running:
    html = fetch(url)
    state = parse(html)      # score, clock, phase
    if state != last:
        write_json(state)    # graphics read this
        last = state
    sleep(interval)

Field rules

• Polite interval - 1-2 s is enough for most sports.
• Resilience - every fetch in try/except, keep last valid state.
• Normalize - the graphics should not know where data comes from.
• Fallback - a manual entry button when the source fails mid-broadcast.