NBC News pre-empted the 8:30pm ET start of last night's 49ers-Patriots game "to carry President Obama's remarks from Newtown, Conn.," following Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 26 people dead, according to Michael Hiestand of USA TODAY. NBC's Al Michaels "alerted sports viewers that the game would be simulcast" on NBC Sports Network and CNBC "until the president concluded, which came at 8:54." The game then "returned to NBC, with Michaels welcoming viewers back with 6:25 to go in the first quarter and quickly reviewing how the 49ers had taken a 7-0 lead." Obama's remarks started about 40 minutes later than planned, and NBC Sports Group Senior VP/Communications Greg Hughes said, "We were trying to satisfy football fans and show what we deemed a very important speech by the president." Hiestand writes the "magnitude and somberness" of the shootings were "reflected in a respectful tone during the pregames on ESPN, Fox and CBS." ESPN NFL Senior Coordinating Producer Seth Markman said, "I addressed a lot of things, like football terminology that might not be appropriate. Like 'pistol' or 'shotgun' or a 'team being wounded' at 'point-blank range.' I said we should try not to use those words but if any of them slip out people will understand." Hiestand notes CBS' "The NFL Today" was "far more sensitive" in its coverage of the Connecticut shootings than for the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide two weeks ago. Studio analyst Boomer Esiason "choked up when talking about heroism by the teachers." Fox "seemed to have the most business-as-usual approach." But then, given the "saturation coverage of the school shootings, there was logic to that approach" (USA TODAY, 12/17).
BOUNCING BACK: SI.com's Richard Deitsch writes CBS' "The NFL Today" provided the "best intersection between football and the news out of Newtown among the pregame shows." The first three minutes of the program were "dedicated to the tragedy." The program then showed "thoughtful tweets from NFL players," including Saints QB Drew Brees, Redskins QB Robert Griffin III and Texans DE J.J. Watt. After the net's "abject failure covering the Kasandra Perkins-Jovan Belcher story two weeks ago, CBS has reminded viewers that it has the gravitas to cover events that go beyond cover twos and zone blitzes." Meanwhile, "Fox NFL Sunday" opened up its coverage with actor Jamie Foxx, who was promoting the upcoming release "Django Unchained," doing a "taped piece on the importance of late-season football." The feature "ended with the tagline: 'Nobody does it like Fox.'" Deitsch notes that was a "remarkably tone deaf lead-in given the news outside of football." ESPN2's "The Sports Reporters" opened with host John Saunders "by himself on the set acknowledging the victims in Newtown." The show immediately "went to commercial after the opener." Deitsch: "Very respectful" (SI.com, 12/17). In Tampa, Tom Jones tabs CBS' "The NFL Today" as his "Best Comeback." The show yesterday "appropriately and respectfully looked around the NFL to see how teams and players were paying respect to the victims of Friday's school shootings" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/17).
CUTTING AWAY TOO QUICK: USA TODAY’s Chris Chase wrote a decision by Fox to “cut away from a moment of silence to air a commercial” prior to yesterday’s Redskins-Browns game was “swiftly criticized on social media sites.” The network aired the PA announcement at Cleveland Browns Stadium that asked fans to honor the Newtown victims and for “17 seconds, as the stadium grew silent, the network aired its live feed, showing reaction from players, coaches and fans.” Then, as a camera “showing a wide view of the stadium raised toward the sky, the pictured faded out quickly and a Geico commercial featuring the company’s animated gecko came on screen.” There was “no music, no graphics and no warning from the booth.” This made for “an uncomfortable transition.” Chase: “Couldn’t the network have waited until the end before cutting to commercial?” (USATODAY.com, 12/16).
SHOWING RESTRAINT: ESPN's Bob Wischusen called Saturday’s Gildan New Mexico Bowl featuring Nevada-Arizona, and he said prior to kickoff that Nevada's noted "pistol" formation would not be mentioned by name due to the Newtown tragedy. He said, "We apologize for any confusion it may cause today but in our small way of showing some respect to the tragedy yesterday we’re not going to be referring to it as the 'pistol' offense today. It will be the 'Nevada' formation” (“Gildan New Mexico Bowl,” ESPN, 12/15).
