For those looking to watch playoff baseball, no luck.As I write this, TBS is experiencing "technical difficulties," rendering them unable to broadcast the beginning of ALCS Game 6 between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. The problems started a little before 8:00 pm EST, when a bloopers show hosted by Dick Clark interrupted the network's pregame show. The problems continued through at least 8:20 PM, when The Steve Harvey Show came on.
Despite the lack of television coverage, the game is continuing as normal. Coco Crisp led of the game with a bunt single, but got picked off first. Dustin Pedroia then popped out to third, and David Ortiz struck out to end the top of the first.
Possibly the strangest part was for the first 20 or so minutes of the delay, when the only indication TBS gave that they were having issues was a scrolling display across that bottom that came by twice and said, "We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please stand by for coverage of Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays." Viewers who missed the scroll were left in the dark as to what was going on.
Update: The delay continued until 8:28 PM EST, when the TBS feed returned. They missed the entire top of the first, as well as three hitters in the bottom half, including a B.J. Upton solo homer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-18-2008 @ 8:23PM
Matt said...
It is still delayed for me. Anyone else?
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10-18-2008 @ 8:47PM
Diane said...
This was "a vast right wing conspiracy"!! We are so awesome in the sports area everyone wants to ruin it!! Go Sox!!
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10-18-2008 @ 8:44PM
Zach said...
Absolutely unforgivable. As if the TBS broadcasts of the game weren't bad enough, their non broadcast has forever ruined their credibility as a sports station. MLB will not award them another post season.
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10-18-2008 @ 8:46PM
Meryl said...
Thank you so much for the info! I had no idea what was going on. It is now on in my area at the top of the 1st
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10-18-2008 @ 9:27PM
kenneth a cimino said...
At least the Heidie show was not on.
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10-18-2008 @ 8:54PM
Grer The Sarcastic Bastard said...
Coud've been worse...
Could've shown "FrankTV".
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10-18-2008 @ 9:22PM
Goldie said...
Give me Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo on NESN anyday!!! TBS broadcasters are a bunch of Bozos!!! I mean all you have to do is look at Brett Sager's wardrobe.Who chooses his clothes anyway?
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10-19-2008 @ 12:12PM
patti said...
you answered your own question re: Sager's wardrobe...BOZO with his see eye dog
10-19-2008 @ 12:23AM
Wayne said...
I hope that this gaffe, coupled with terrible commentators two years running, allows MLB to break their contract with TBS.
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10-21-2008 @ 12:22PM
Bob said...
I worked at Turner for 20 years. Turner Sports has never been the same since they started hiring "former network executives" from ESPN, CBS, ABC and FOX. Why didn't the technicians in Florida point their up-link directly to the TBS transponder and start broadcasting the network directly from St. Pete? Once you get Atlanta working again then you can add the commercials etc... The game is the most important thing, people don't care if you miss a few commercial breaks. When I worked there we had conditions to follow for all disasters, and this was one. What if a tornado or a gas explosion had happened in Atlanta and took out their facilities? You telling me the people at Turner Sports never thought something like that could happen? Hey, this is only the biggest event that TBS has ever had rights to. It would not surprise me if Time Warner decided to move the entire operation. I wonder if this disaster could effect TBS' contract with MLB? This is by the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened at Turner. By the way, Ted might be the largest stockholder of Time Warner stock but Ted has no more control over his networks. Turner Broadcasting is nothing like it used to be when Ted ran the place. Heads should roll on this one.. No excuses! TBS Very Funny!
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