The Florida Panthers and their fans have been waiting 30 years to win a Stanley Cup, and when that magic moment finally arrived Monday, ABC affiliate WPLG 10 in Miami reaped the benefits of broadcasting the game being played just 20 miles away.
Yet some fans think the station inexplicably dropped the ball — or the puck, if you will — cutting away from ESPN on ABC’s post-game coverage of the Panthers’ celebration to show local news. The station abruptly cut to a commercial right in the middle of reporter Emily Kaplan’s interview with Panthers GM Bill Zito.
After a commercial break, the local newscast began.
To be completely fair, Local 10 News opened with video of the Panthers winning the game and the celebration that followed, along with extensive coverage of the championship.
So it was a calculated, risky and perhaps wise decision for WPLG to prioritize its coverage over the remaining network feed.
Fans had different views on WPLG’s decision.
[@TheiKevin]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.