President Donald Trump frustrated viewers of ABC’s broadcast of a marquee Saturday college football game as they were forced to listen to static.
ABC’s audio dissolved into static during the first quarter of the Texas-Tennessee game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, according to reporting by The New York Post. The trouble started immediately after sideline reporter Laura Rutledge wrapped up a report on how Trump’s attendance could affect coaches’ headset communications and sent the broadcast back to play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler and analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
The booth conversation was hard to make out for several minutes. At one point, Fowler could be heard telling Herbstreit to stay quiet while technicians worked on the problem. Earlier, while Rutledge was speaking, ABC aired a graphic explaining “electromagnetic deconfliction” and the coordination of radio frequencies with the Secret Service protecting Trump as he moved around the stadium.
Clean audio returned after a few minutes. Viewers quickly took to social media to complain.
“Thank you Mr. President,” sportswriter Patrick Daugherty sarcastically posted.
“On behalf of all our ears, it’s okay to turn Kirk Herbstreit’s mic off until you fix it,” wrote sports radio host Jon Weiner.
“Everything Trump touches turns to s—,” influencer and internet personality Jared Shult blasted.
The broadcast issues came days after Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian claimed Trump’s presence disrupted the College Football Playoff national championship in January. During a Thursday press conference, Sarkisian explained that whenever the president moves through a stadium, all communication has to be shut down. That includes links between coordinators in the booth and the sideline, as well as players’ in-helmet communications.
Sarkisian said Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, a friend of his, told him that Miami lost communications on its final drive against Indiana because Trump was leaving the game early. Indiana won the title game 27-21.
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