TV producer suspended for not showing replay

[DCSholtis]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100113/ap_on_sp_ho_ne/hkn_replay_producer_suspended

PITTSBURGH – FSN Pittsburgh has indefinitely suspended a longtime hockey producer for not quickly showing a replay that could have caused a short-handed goal to be awarded to Flyers forward Simon Gagne against the Penguins on Thursday.

The producer, Lowell MacDonald Jr., is the one-time lead hockey producer at ESPN and is the son of former Penguins forward Lowell MacDonald.

Gagne's shot appeared to cross the goal line while Penguins goalie Brent Johnson was covering it during the second period of the Flyers' 7-4 victory, but the on-ice officials did not signal a goal. TV replays made available to NHL officials in Toronto were inconclusive.

Moments after play resumed, FSN Pittsburgh aired a replay from an overhead camera that showed the puck crossing the goal line. A call cannot be reversed by use of replay once play has started.

TV rights holders are required to make available all angles of a disputed play. Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia also aired the game, but only FSN Pittsburgh's telecast contained video from the overhead camera.

FSN Pittsburgh, which carries all Penguins game except those televised by NBC and Versus, said in a statement Tuesday that there "is nothing more important than the integrity of the game."

[Earl Bonovich]

IMHO, Football and NHL and anyone that uses replay that relies on the NETWORK to replay it first, needs to update to the times.

With today's technology, there is absolutely NO reason why every camera footage angle isn't available to a team of replay officials and teams instantly. (Since in the NFL, the team has to initiate the call before the 2:00 mark)

Basically you are giving the networks control of this now fairly critical aspect of the game. How many times have we watched a game and BEG to see a replay of a particular play. With our DVRs we can get a little bit, but there are times when we want that other angle.

Now, us consumers will probalby never get every angle but the officials/teams involved should have them.

I also don't understand why they are still look at the tinest of TV's to view these replays. Can't they afford a 1080p 43" HD TV to use? ;)

While I don't think this producer should have been suspendend, if there was no direct intent to hide the goal in the reasoning to not show the replay. (If in fact they determined this producer knowling with held the shot/goal, that is a whole different story). Thumbs up to the network for taking responsiblity either way.

[DCSholtis]

IMHO, Football and NHL and anyone that uses replay that relies on the NETWORK to replay it first, needs to update to the times.

With today's technology, there is absolutely NO reason why every camera footage angle isn't available to a team of replay officials and teams instantly. (Since in the NFL, the team has to initiate the call before the 2:00 mark)

Basically you are giving the networks control of this now fairly critical aspect of the game. How many times have we watched a game and BEG to see a replay of a particular play. With our DVRs we can get a little bit, but there are times when we want that other angle.

Now, us consumers will probalby never get every angle but the officials/teams involved should have them.

I also don't understand why they are still look at the tinest of TV's to view these replays. Can't they afford a 1080p 43" HD TV to use? ;)

While I don't think this producer should have been suspendend, if there was no direct intent to hide the goal in the reasoning to not show the replay. (If in fact they determined this producer knowling with held the shot/goal, that is a whole different story). Thumbs up to the network for taking responsiblity either way.

Actually the "war room" in Toronto where replays are initiated do have HD feeds. They finally got themselves into the now. :lol: But your right the leagues in this case the NHL should be in control of the feeds and not rely on the specific RSN to provide the correct angle or whatever.