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Baseball fans erupted in anger on social media after Turner Broadcasting System’s handling of Game 4 of the ALDS between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday.
The controversy centered around a change in camera angles, which appeared to be an attempt to squeeze in additional advertisements. Instead of the traditional center-field shot focusing on the pitcher and strike zone, the broadcast shifted to accommodate two behind-the-plate ads.
Fans who tuned into the game didn't hold back their outrage, with many taking to social media to point out the new approach to camera angles.
"It’s so f***ing embarassing. The exec who decided this deserves jail time, and I’m not even kidding." - one fan posted.
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"What an insult to these two fan bases." - added another fan.
"I think they’re playing baseball somewhere in that picture." - joked another fan.
Other fan reactions followed:
"Who needs to know what balls and strikes are?" - another fan joked.
"Putting the BS in TBS," said another.
Turner Broadcasting has reportedly faced issues with their broadcast of the MLB playoffs
It wasn’t an isolated issue for Turner Broadcasting during the playoffs. Another highly criticized moment occurred during the Yankees vs. Royals Game 3 of the ALCS. As Giancarlo Stanton’s pivotal double brought Juan Soto home to score, the camera stayed fixed on Stanton, leaving fans clueless about Soto’s slide into home.
Beyond the advertisements and errors with camera shifting, the technical issues have also piled up. During Game 2 of the Guardians-Tigers ALCS, the broadcast signal on TBS froze, leaving viewers in the dark for nearly an entire inning. Fans who watched on TruTV didn't experience the same problem, making fans even more unhappy.
The MLB playoffs should be a showcase of the best baseball - not of broadcasting errors. Turner Broadcasting System’s handling has left fans questioning their ability to cover such crucial games.
