All four Major North American professional sports leagues use instant replay technology. Basketball, hockey, football, and baseball all use varying forms of instant replay to review game play and official calls. Baseball was the last to introduce the technology, and uses it to the most limited degree, while football has used it to the most success and with the most interaction from teams since 1999. Other minor marquee sports, such as tennis and NASCAR, also employ instant replay technology in limited capacities.

In the National Basketball Association, instant replay has been used since 2005 by referees to determine whether a shot at the buzzer was released before or after the buzzer went off. The shot, called a buzzer beater, has to be out of the players hand and in its flight toward the basket before time expires. Whichever way the shot is ruled on the court at the time, the instant replay can be used to maintain or overturn the call, and only at the discretion of the referees.

In the National Hockey League, replays may also be initiated only by a referee, and only in certain circumstances. The only scenario reviewable in hockey is in situations where goals scored are questionable. The reviewable situations include: whether a puck has crossed the goal line completely; whether the puck was in the net prior to the end of a period; whether the puck was in the net before the goal was moved; or whether the puck was deflected off of a hand, foot, official, or high stick.

In Major League Baseball, instant replay has been used since 28 August 2008. The rule was implemented after a plethora of questionable homerun calls early in that season. Like the previous two sports, instant replay in baseball can only be initiated by an umpire, and can maintain or overrule a play made on the field. The first ever instant replay in baseball was used on an Alex Rodriguez homerun, and maintained the call on the field. Replays are used only on fair/foul calls, spectator interference, and whether the ball actually crossed the fence or the line at the top of the fence.

The National Football League has used instant replay the longest. They are the only sport to allow coaches or teams to “challenge” a play. In the NFL, coaches are allowed two instant replay challenges per game, though within the final two minutes of either half replays are called by officials. Replays can be used on almost any play, not including judgment plays called on the field, including: forward or backward passes; quarterback fumbles; forward progress; down by contact; and placement of a football.