Live events interrupted by breaking news

[Brekkie]

Inevitably in times like this the question of what if the news broke during a live event, a sporting event in particular, always crops up.

Presumably history generally has the answer. Hillsborough is the event I think of with Grandstand switching to reports of the events. I assume there are countless more examples from around of world as well as here - unlikely all newsflashes have occurred during pre-recorded programmes.

[James Martin]

Munich 1972 is the other obvious one. Maybe not here, but in the US there's footage in the film Prefontaine (a biopic of the American runner Steve Prefontaine) that suggests the broadcaster there covered the developents using their Olympic studio and presenters.

[Gareth E]

Grandstand covering the 1997 Grand National when Des Lynam and co ended up covering the bomb scare and evacuation.

https://youtu.be/slAPxLB9Q6U

[Jon]

There is a video of NBC announcing the death of John Lennon during an American football match IIRC.

Edit: Turns out it was ABC.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n73GFvAyIjs

[Brekkie]

I think that perfectly highlights why you are better off cutting to the newsroom.

[JLav25]

NOS interrupted Eurovision in 2000 to broadcast coverage of the Enschede Fireworks Disaster

[mici01]

NOS interrupted Eurovision in 2000 to broadcast coverage of the Enschede Fireworks Disaster

And that's why they only had the Dutch jury vote that year and no televote.

https://youtu.be/EerGJWLljNI?t=7398

[Cassia Tuna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq6mVAXegyw

When Ayrton Senna died in 1994 there was a NASCAR race taking place in the US where his death was announced live and a couple of silent laps were performed in his memory. Ironically, Dale Earnhardt would die in his own accident just seven years later.

[nwtv2003]

This was a recent one that sprung to mind during the Premier League Darts when it was announced that Eric Bristow had died that day. Whilst no longer a pundit for Sky, he was still very much part of the Sport and was in Liverpool for the Darts, the day he died.

https://youtu.be/b4s5lw9feC0

[Markymark]

NOS interrupted Eurovision in 2000 to broadcast coverage of the Enschede Fireworks Disaster

I don't think any of the ESC made it to air on NOS?

[Markymark]

Munich 1972 is the other obvious one. Maybe not here, but in the US there's footage in the film Prefontaine (a biopic of the American runner Steve Prefontaine) that suggests the broadcaster there covered the developents using their Olympic studio and presenters.

The German host broadcasters (ARD/ZDF) may well have done that for the domestic audience.

David Coleman stepped into the reporter role on the BBC's coverage

[James Martin]

NOS interrupted Eurovision in 2000 to broadcast coverage of the Enschede Fireworks Disaster

I don't think any of the ESC made it to air on NOS?

AFAIK it did go on initially but was pulled mid-show. I recall reading a blog written by a British guy who was staying with his Dutch girlfriend's family that weekend, and they switched over to Belgian TV to see the conclusion of the contest.

As mentioned on a thread on TVF discussing this sort of thing, the "Obit during Eurovision" scenario is, apparently, a classic Network Director interview question at the BBC.

I believe Spain possibly dropped a semi final to cover a bus crash, which unfortunately was the one they were assigned to vote in?

[zenon]

I believe Spain possibly dropped a semi final to cover a bus crash, which unfortunately was the one they were assigned to vote in?

Spain actually dropped a semi final for tennis coverage although not sure if this was the same year but there was a bus crash in Albania.

[James Martin]

I believe Spain possibly dropped a semi final to cover a bus crash, which unfortunately was the one they were assigned to vote in?

Spain actually dropped a semi final for tennis coverage although not sure if this was the same year but there was a bus crash in Albania.

You're right - my bad!

[Rob]

BBC One breaking away from Wimbledon to report Boris Johnson's resignation as Foreign Secretary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72xPylOBGro