FOX broadcast breaks down during World Series


Details

Michelle Clancy

| 29 October 2015





A FOX outage delayed game one of the World Series between the NY Mets and Kansas City Royals, much to everyone's chagrin.


The game was delayed for approximately seven minutes with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning Tuesday night, when FOX's broadcast truck lost power. Aside from the lack of national coverage, the real reason for the delay was the fact that the truck also provided both teams with replay capabilities — a critical part of officiating the game.

"A rare electronics failure caused both the primary and back-up generators inside the FOX Sports production compound to lose power," FOX said — a big issue given how important sports programming is to engendering viewer loyalty.

Viewers meanwhile were sent to the Fox Sports 1 studio in Los Angeles, where the unprepared hosts attempted to fill the time. Eventually, FOX switched the broadcast to the international feed, though FOX noted that the "technical difficulties" continued. It also had to tap the MLB Network crew to call the game, with Matt Vasgersian taking over for Joe Buck as play-by-play announcer.

Buck and the FOX domestic broadcast returned in the bottom of the fifth.

The Royals won the game 5-4.