Angry Tampa Bay area tennis fans protest WTSP-Ch. 10's decision to pre-empt today's U.S. Open men's final

Roger Federer made history Monday night, becoming the first man to win five successive titles at two different Grand Slam tennis events -- the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.

But Tampa Bay area viewers didn't see CBS' telecast of this historic match on local affiliate WTSP-Ch. 10, because officials there decided to air their regular programming during the match -- a new episode of the Dr. Phil talkshow and their 6 p.m. newscast.

When WTSP officials heard on Saturday that the men's U.S. Open final match would air on CBS Monday from 5 to 8 p.m., they knew they had a problem.

Airing the match would mean forgoing the first new episode this fall of popular talk show of Dr. Phil and pre-empting a 6 p.m. newscast on a day when passing Hurricane Ike was a major weather story. Going with regular programming would mean forcing tennis fans to look online or on WTSP's digital TV channel for sports coverage.

WTSP decided at 1 p.m. today to go with regular programming, bypassing broadcast of a titanic match between Roger Federer and Andy Murray, earning the ire of tennis fans across the Tampa Bay area.

"It was a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation," said WTSP spokesman Pete Nikiel, noting that fans can watch the tennis match right now on USOpen.org or on their digital weather channel.

Nikiel said CBS would not allow the station to re-air the match, insisting it be presented live.

"The tennis people are angry (but) if we hadn't done this, the Dr. Phil people would have been angry," added Nikiel, who couldn't say how many angry phone calls they had gotten. "Turns out, tennis fans are quite vocal."

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Comments

[I hate st pete times]

As I said before WTSP and WFLA could care less if there are tennis fans out there. All you terribly obnoxious BUCS fans--I hope this happens to you. You won't be happy with either station or their newspapers.

[A-Viewer]

For the last couple of years it's been the middle weekend of the French that's been pre-empted. And a sad story about how a last minute deal couldn't be reached with WTTA or another local station.

[BuccoBill]

A-Viewer you misunderstood me Channel 8 always does negotiate with NBC and if an event like the French Open Men's Final is on the Sunday of the ACH telethon, the match will normally shown on WTTA and WFLA does give notice.

[A-Viewer]

Some good news for tennis fans is that WTSP will rebroadcast the US OPEN Finals on Saturday 12:30PM

See - http://www.tampabays10.com/sports/story.aspx?storyid=89477

Thank you St.Pete Times for providing this forum for discussion!

I disagree with BuccoBill. WFLA is Tampa's NBC affiliate. NBC and WFLA have all year to negotiate alternate French Open coverage through another local station.

Who knows how things will work out with the Feb. '09 DTV cut-over, but I'm guessing we'll be reading of "last minute apologies" from NBC or WFLA spokespeople that they just couldn't negotiate airing on an alternate station.

[BuccoBill]

I'm sick of people negatively referencing WFLA and the All Childrens Hospital telethon pre-empting programming. The ACH telethon is a Tampa Bay TV tradition and has been for the last 25 years, WFLA has had a valid right every year to pre-empt programming especially the French Open finals which have normally been shown on Channels 32 or 38.

Now as for WTSP, they had no right doing pre-empting a postponed US Open final because they could have easily shown Dr. Phil at 9am instead of showing reruns of Inside Edition and Millionaire from Friday and it wouldn't have been hard to publicize it on the morning news,. Oh wait, I forgot no one watches 10 News This Morning and the fat--- and lazy Dr. Phil viewers aren't up at 9am. Never mind, you all got screwed by Channel 10, at least I got to see it on my satellite off of WCBS. Oh BTW soaplover, Major sports championships are never shown on ESPN because there are still some people who are sports fans and don't have cable in this country. Did you ever think of that? At least you know that every year CBS will preempt soaps for the Sun Bowl and the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

[james]

It's bad enough that CBS didn't air the final when they were supposed to, they also refuse to rebroadcast it....what kind of idiots are working at CBS? If you care about your viewership and want to get some of them back , it would be a wise decision to rebroadcast the US Open men's final before week's end....I agree with the person that wrote CBS should stand for "Constantly Being Stupid".

Tom, you have to keep things in perspective. There is a reason this place is nicknamed "Tampon Florida". WTSP GM Sam Rosenwasser was (brain) cramping bad from a heavy flow day.
We all had to watch Dr. Phil so Sam could get some advice on how to keep his hormones in check.

[tom]

Off with their heads......TV10. Please keep calling the GM at home and the main CBS number in NY. Maybe we can keep CBS from cutting off the Masters, NCAA Final Four Basketball, PGA Championship Golf, and the Super Bowl. I hope they never get the Super Bowl again...or any of the above mentioned sporting events..Give them NASCAR for the beer swilling, snuff chewing, redneck, wife abusing crowd. Right up CBS' alley

[tom]

Therse schmuks wouldnt print my comments......too long to do again

[tom]

Just post it as is......youre as bad as TV 10

[Joe]

Thank you, Roger, you are one of the best athletes ever in any sport.

It is sad that a station, in a market like Tampa, 13th in the nation, has to preempt the biggest tennis match of the year in America to run "Dr. Phil."

Luckily, my CBS station in Charleston didn't preempt it, so anybody with an antenna could have watched.

San Diego, another one of tennis's big markets, also preempted the match. That just tells you the state of tennis in this country.

Hopefully, you are changing the way tennis is thought of in this country, as you've been in two great matches this year, both of which were some of the top moments in sports for the year.

[Roger Federer]

How about pre-empting the Dr. Phil show with a taped re-run of my match? Many of my Tampa Bay friends and relatives were extremely disappointed to have to miss my match, and I am very upset that they were caused to be disappointed.

[Mathew Galemmo]

Who were the SCHMUCKS that made the decision to show that FAT SCHMUCK Dr. Phil?

Send your reporters and cameramen to film my arrival at the swiss bank where I am stashing my money so that I can buy out your channel and fire every SCHMUCK that made that decision!

Then you could pre-empt the next "FAT SCHMUCK DR. PHIL" show with that report.

Roger Federer

[soaplover]

I must be the only one...but I was a lot disappointed because the preempted my soaps for the womens finals. I think the networks should leave the sports to ESPN and leave regular programming where it belongs. Sports fans can tune in to ESPN without disrupting the schedule for everyone else who would rather watch their regular shows.

[joe hillman]

>>>The only reason this was done was for REVENUE<<<

really? i thought channel 10 was a pbs station?

And nobody has brought up "The Heidi Bowl"

[Jack]

The late Dick Fletcher of Channel was one of the areas most avid tennis fans. He must be rolling over in his grave. Sorry Dick your former employers did not think this one out.

[Hatchet]

Did Channel 10 not learn anything from the fiasco when Channel 8 opted to schedule a telethon and pre-empt the classic 5-set French Open Final with Agassi .

[Jim]

If this is the biggest problem we have, we've got it pretty good. There are millions of people around the world who don't have enough food or a decent place to live. Put it in perspective.

[PD]

The hills are alive with the Sound of Music!!!!!

Idoits then Idoits now!

[beltwaybandit]

I share everyone's disgust with the decision. The General Manager at WTSP clearly must have either hailed from a sales background (Herb Tarlek anyone?) or just ocme back from a very bad corporate meeting in DC (Gannett HQ).

The only reason this was done was for REVENUE. The station keeps what it sells on Dr. Phil and their local news. They get a fraction of the commercials run on network events.

Ratings have little to do with it. It's all about the bucks.

And while we're on the subject, keep in mind that theonly reason stations invest so much in local news is the revenue it produces. They hoide behind journalism, but you don't see these stations going after any organization that advertises on the station.

So why are we surprised that a local TV drone would make this decision?

Turn the channel, and if enough of you do the GM will get canned and someone new will come in and tick us off.

[Jason A.]

"Dr." Phil Vs. historic Tennis match? NO, it was not Damned if you do damned if you don't... It's quite simple. Pre-taped "Dr." Phil can be watched on the repeats or at a special time, where as this historic match can never be watched LIVE again. What a joke. What a way to tell the tennis fans in Tampa Bay that Channel 10 does not care about your sport OR your support. Channel 10 should either fire or demote their station manager immediately. Obviously that person is not in touch with Tampa Bay Viewers.

Another blunder by channel 10. Executive decision making at it's worst. Almost as bad as censorship here.

[Jay]

At least we weren't watching the match, rooting for "our guy" and just before it ends, WTSP-CH 10 switches to "Heidi"!

Oh, yea, that one has already happened.

[bettyboop]

i'm 77 years old looked forward all day to the match of the year. bad bad bad decision channel 10.

[Seretha]

Local news sould always come before tennis. Only rich people play tennis, anyways.

[Quan Phan]

Only problem people watch Dr. Phil and chanel 10 did have problem.

[Furious]

Ah, a gator fan! Go Seminoles! Go L’ville! Go Hurricanes! Go Bulls! Go Bulldogs! Go anybody other than the gators!

[Quan Phan]

Only problem people watch Dr. Phil and chanel 10 did have problem.

[tennisfan]

Comments on the web indicate that 10 percent of the affiliates didn't carry the final (or ran the feed on a local alternate). So I guess Tampa Bay is in the bottom 10 percent of tennis interest, right?

The decision maker at WTSP is station GM Sam Rossenwasser. Let him know how much you appreciate his fine thinking.

[Biggie Size Me]

I knew right a way when I turned on my TV to Channel 10 that something was not right. There was a commercial break. It must have been 4 minutes long. The TV was still on while I scrambled to the Web to find the stream. More commercials on the TV, targeting fat people who spend the day on the couch. Watching commercials.

Think I'll buy a Lexus.

[tbmike]

There was a tennis match on? Let's put it in perspective - they did not preempt a football game. Any Americans in the match? No, just some rich Swiss jerk. Who cares? Show a rerun of the Gator game instead!!!

[mumbles]

In the words of Dr. Phil:
Channel 10, what were you thinking?

[Jeff]

Dr. Phil is such a HACK!!!! He doesn't even have a real degree. Just goes to show that the people in charge of the media these days do not have a brains in their heads.

[drinklime]

CHANNEL 10 IS PURE TRASH, A SHADOW OF ITS FORMER SELF

[joe hillman]

so let me get this straight:

a local program is supposed to show a one-time event that will generate fewer viewers (hint: more viewers = more revenue) and likely hack off more viewers by pre-empting dr. phil (not a dr. phil fan at all) to broadcast something that was available online???

good thing you guys aren't in business.

[Lance]

I'm done with 10...inexcusable!

[Paul H]

Somebody said Tennis is dying. Ha! All time attendance records were set this year for the US Open. (I personally went last week.) The city courts in our Tampa neighborhood have people standing around waiting to play. Tampa Bay produces some of the top tennis talent, with residents Mardy Fish and James Blake playing deep into this year's Open.

Channel 10 is dying. And now we see that quality direct Internet programming for live events is here. See yaa!

[Dave W]

Dr. Phil?!?!? You've got to be kidding me. The Tennis event is a once in a year match, whereas the losers who watch Dr. Phil can see the show next week and probably already have 6 hours of TV watching for the day under their belts. Ch. 10 made a poor decision.

[Susan]

Channel 10's decision not to air the US Open Men's final was terrible. Dr. Phil is a big bag of hot air. He is nothing compared to an annual event like the US Open Tennis. I was fortunate to watch it on my computer. I do not have digital cable!!! I sure made the right investment. Roger Federer has the same stature as Tiger Woods only in the Tennis world. Would you not show a golf match with Tiger in it? Channel 10 shows it probably would.

If CBS would not allow the tennis match to be re-broadcast, why not opt to re-broadcast Dr Phil - stations have a lot more control over syndicated programming than network.

Nikiel is an idiot! if he's making the decisions at Ch 10 no wonder it's the last place station.

If you really want to voice your opinion, don't call Ch 10, call Gannett, the parent company in Arlington VA (sorry, not able to get the ph number right now).

[Mike]

Memo to media: When presented with the opportunity of preempting Dr. Phil, TAKE IT! For any reason! US Open is a no-brainer, but there may be other opportunities, like a live feed of a Roseate Spoonbill wading in Ft Desoto. Or a fisherman cleaning a grouper at John's Pass. Or....

[Jim]

Let's see. Hmmmm, what can I add here not already said? Rays lose, Bucs lose and tennis fans lose out to Dr.Phil and the gang. Channel 10 scores a perfect ZERO in this decision.Maybe you should get more familiar with the market. Supremely disappointing!!

With the Confederate flag flying over the city, the gormless operators of a local commercial TV station decide that "right" kind of Tampa resident isn't interested in something as elitist as tennis. No, here a celebrity smut show is more important. The US open can't be of interest to Tampa people.

We name our freeways after football players and US Open tennis championship is less important than Brittany's comeback.

Be warned, people considering moving here, this is a cultural backwater. Take due warning from the flag. If your considering locating a high tech business here--consider the culture your employees kids will grow-up in.

Here NASCAR and beer commercials pass a high culture.

[Julie]

I work nights. I set my DVR to record the Open, and anticipated this match all night. I was SO upset to get home and hit play and there was F****G Dr. PHIL! Bad enough I don't get to see the Open Final...seeing even 3 seconds of Dr. Phil's blathering just sent me through the roof...especially on top of the RAY'S losing effort...Skyway Bridge, here I come.....

[JIM]

All this is a reason not to delay getting an HD TV or converter box. The converter box works well and with the "Gift"??? from your uncle SAM, it is cheap.

Don't buy that cable will carry analog so you do not need the box. Must carry is for a limited time and cable will try to convert as fast as the law will allow. They have a big bandwidth issue with copper and need to ditch the analog or fiber will clean their clock.

[JIM]

All this is a reason not to delay getting an HD TV or converter box. The converter box works well and with the "Gift"??? from your uncle SAM, it is cheap.

Don't buy that cable will carry analog so you do not need the box. Must carry is for a limited time and cable will try to convert as fast as the law will allow. They have a big bandwidth issue with copper and need to ditch the analog or fiber will clean their clock.

[Furious]

After working for NMR for over 20 years I can tell you the decision was based on ratings...only ratings! I watched the tournament for 2 weeks, up late every night or recorded it...only to come home and find that the idiots at Ch.10 put the final on some channel I don't receive and my old computer could only provide the audio!!!!!!!! Continue to call them and let your voices be heard 577-1010. Also call the CBS Network in NYC, NY.

[Audrey]

Luckily I have digital cable, obtained after a similar situation last year when either the French Open or Wimbledon finals was also pre-empted by a telethon, so other than the first 20 minutes, I was able to watch the match. However, while I find the scheduling issue to be a major mistake on channel 10's part, I find it equally disturbing that after watching their newscast tonight they reported they wanted to hear from the public on their decision, yet they didn't show a single highlight nor did they report on the outcome of the match in any way. What incompetence!

[tvwatcher]

Of all the local affiliates in Tampa Bay the weakest of them all is WTSP. The only thing they had going for them was Fletch. The station still has not hired his replacement. (the bean counters have been happy to save $$$ the longer they wait to replace him)
The weather department is now a joke. Dellegato over at FOX has more credibility then the whole weather department at ch 10.

So, someone who has watched the entire tournament does NOT GET TO SEE THE FINAL because of Dr. Phil?? You have got to be kidding me! Classic.