ESPYs viewers fume after show cuts off abruptly and ‘misses entire segment’ featuring Prince Harry and war heroes
ABC viewers have fumed at the network after coverage of the ESPYs was cut short on Thursday night.
Fans missed out on seeing the final award presented for Best Team after the network re-ran a segment on Prince Harry.
The annual Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards were broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Tennis icon Serena Williams hosted the glitzy ceremony with Harry in attendance to collect the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
But viewers in several timezones were left confused by a chaotic ending to the show.
The ABC feed appeared to go back in time during the broadcast, cutting away from a montage on the Hawaiin wildfires.
A video featuring Prince Harry was shown for the second time in the night before the show abruptly cut to the credits.
Baffled viewers quickly flocked to social media after realizing they had missed the final award of the night.
“The #espys just glitched, hit the dreaded 11:30p local news cut off and missed the ENTIRE Prince Harry segment — WOW!!” gasped one fan on X.
“I still can’t believe this happened! Well, hopefully next year is different!” said another.
“WHY DID ABC REWIND THE SHOW?! NOW HARRY IS BACK ON! THE ESPYS WILL NEVER END!” added a third.
“I’m so confused how the ESPYs ended – someone getting fired,” commented a fourth.
“This is worse than the Sopranos ending,” quipped a fifth.
The issues were reportedly caused by a late start due to coverage of President Joe Biden’s press conference.
As such, some areas cut to local news at 11.30 pm ET due to ABC’s hard-out requirement, per Awful Announcing.
During Biden’s presser, a note was flashed up on the screen as the event overran from Washington DC.
“The ESPYs will be seen in its entirety in the East and Central Time Zones following this special report from ABC News,” it read.
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However, the glitch only appears to have affected viewers in Eastern and Central time zones.
The South Carolina Women’s basketball team was named Best Team in the award missed by the ABC feed.
They had achieved a perfect 38-0 record last season.
Harry was given his controversial award for his work with the Invictus Games.
The organization helps celebrate the sporting achievements of wounded, sick, or injured service people.
