Pittsburgh vs. SetonHall BIG EAST Network broadcast has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Now, the way I am reading all of this. The game itself is on. There just won’t be any broadcast of the game. Not on FoxSports Pittsburgh. Not on MASN, SNY or Altitude. Not on ESPN360.com.
Just cancel the whole game if they can’t even get a TV crew there. That means it is too unsafe for anyone to make the trek.
UPDATE 1:49 pm: Here’s the official weasel statement from the Big East.
ESPN Regional Television (ERT) has had to cancel this evening’s “Big East Network” production of the Seton Hall at Pittsburgh game scheduled for 6 p.m. (ET) tonight. Although the game is still scheduled to be played, the weather and road conditions throughout the area prohibit ERT from assembling production facilities and personnel in a timely fashion to originate a telecast. We regret the inconvenience, but the safety of our staff and employees is always a primary concern.
Safety of fans in the area. Not so much. If you want to see the game you paid for, gut it out.
Just wondering. Since the Pitt Athletic Department is encouraging anyone who can’t walk to the game to stay home, any chance they are going to offer refunds? Any chance? Any?
/crickets chirping
UPDATE 3:00: Just for fun, here are some other locations that got hit by the storm, yet managed not to have their telecasts canceled:
State College (Minn-PSU), Big 10 Network
Charlottesville, VA (WF-UVa), Raycom
Richmond, VA (Temple-Richmond), ESPNU; and (ODU-VCU) Comcast
Blacksburg, VA (Clemson-VT), Raycom
UPDATE 3:33: Here’s how ESPN Regional works. They are based in Charlotte, but have production facilities in various areas that are dispatched. One of them is located in Huntington, WV. They pull in people — usually w/in driving distance from the region to do the job. For example, John Sanders (“bending, bending…) who regularly calls games for the Big East also shows up on Big 11 Network broadcasts and MAC because he lives in the Cleveland area and can drive to a lot of the games (or catch quick flights).
ERT didn’t plan or adjust. They just hoped that it would work out.
I still blame the Big East for deciding to push the game through. ERT knows they can’t safely have their people come in for the game. Pitt is saying that if you can’t walk to the Pete, don’t come.
Yet the Big East is saying that the game has to take place. That’s on the conference for screwing fans in Pittsburgh and outside.
UPDATE 4:50: I suppose it’s better than nothing, but apparently there will be a free video feed at Pitt’s web site. Here’s the direct link.
Also, all Pitt students get in free with a valid student ID. Lots of seats available.
I would love to sit home and watch the game but certainly undertand a TV crew having trouble getting here if they weren’t in town overnight.
For those that are out of town, it is kind of surreal here right now. The sun is out, there is some blue sky, and there is about 2 feet of snow on the ground…
According to the Post-Gazette, the game will be on radio, and the radio broadcast will be streamed online.
Again, if the BE TV crew were not in town last night and were traveling from the east, there were major problems.
I too am much more pissed if we don’t get to see the Utah game.
TV crews that work late afternoon/evening games often travel on the day of the game. If there is anything to criticize the Big East TV folks about, it is that they didn’t get their crew here on Friday. Even with the 4-7 inch forecast, travel into Pittsburgh would have been tough since it seems like budgets for snow removal have been cut (the city denies it, but the circumstantial evidence is pretty convincing).
You can watch it here: link to all-access.cbssports.com
if you have Silverlight.
I expect Brown and Wannamaker to show up tonight but Gibbs’ slump is worriesome.
