Fans of the UEFA Champions League were left frustrated on Tuesday as TNT Sports' coverage of the competition was plagued by a series of technical difficulties.
The broadcaster, which is the UK's representative for Europe's premier football competition this season following a rebrand from BT Sport, faced a number of issues during the broadcast of Manchester United's nail-biting 1-0 victory over Copenhagen.
One of the most noticeable problems was a persistent crackling noise that could be heard throughout the coverage. The noise, which seemed to be the result of producers talking into the earpieces of the pundits, led to a wave of complaints on social media.
Fans were quick to express their frustration at the poor sound quality, which detracted from the overall viewing experience.
Microphone malfunctions
The sound quality wasn't the only issue on the night. Pundit Paul Scholes' microphone unexpectedly cut out during the pre-match build-up, adding to the technical woes. Despite this hiccup, presenter Laura Woods handled the situation professionally, while Scholes lightened the mood by pretending to throw the faulty microphone away.
The microphone issue resurfaced later in the evening when the team attempted to interview Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag after the game. Fans also reported that the audio was out of sync with the pictures, further compounding the technical difficulties.
Manchester United's narrow victory
Despite the broadcasting issues, Manchester United fans had reason to celebrate as their team secured a crucial 1-0 win. The victory was far from assured, with Scott McTominay conceding a 95th-minute penalty that threatened to overturn the result.
However, Andre Onana, who has faced criticism for his performances in the tournament so far this season, emerged as the hero of the night. The goalkeeper saved the penalty, securing United's first win of the 2023-24 group stage.
While Manchester United celebrated their victory, TNT Sports was left to deal with the fallout from a night of technical difficulties.
The broadcaster will undoubtedly be working hard to ensure that future coverage of the Champions League is free from such issues, providing fans with the high-quality viewing experience they expect from Europe's premier football competition.
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