SEVERAL AMERICAN CABLE companies have decided to issue refunds to customers after technical fiasco prevented many from watching the start of the Phil Mickelson-Tiger Woods pay-per-view match in Las Vegas.
One of the first to announce the refund was Turner Broadcasting’s Bleacher Report after some viewers were prevented from seeing the match while others were able to watch it for free on Friday.
The match was billed as golf’s first pay-per-view event.
“Prior to the start of the event, we experienced a technical issue with the B/R Live paywall that we tried to quickly resolve,” the distributer of the match Turner Sports said in a statement.
“We decided to take down the paywall to ensure that fans who already purchased the event would not miss any action. This did not impact the live streaming of the competition and fans were treated to an event that was both engaging and memorable.
“Unfortunately, the pre-match technical issue did occur, and we will offer fans who purchased the event on B/R Live a refund.”
Comcast Corp. also said it would return the $19.99 fee for the head-to-head match which Mickelson won over Woods on the fourth playoff hole to collect a $9 million payout.
“Comcast will proactively issue a $19.99 credit to any Xfinity TV customer who purchased ‘The Match’ pay-per-view event,” said Comcast in a statement.
Turner tried but failed to fix the technical issue with the broadcast so it took down the paywall allowing anyone to view it for free.
Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:
So its wrong 2% of the time. As oppose to the 17% before. Worth it.
The reluctance to flag for offside because of VAR is annoying too. Joel Matip gave away a corner against Arsenal because he blocked a shot from a clearly offside Aubameyang. Same happened when Adrian made a save from an offside player against Burnley.
@Gary: it’s not a reluctance, the actual rule has changed so the AR now must wait to flag. This is just one of the many rules that have had to be changed to accommodate VAR; others include the handball rule and rules relating to the taking and officiating of penalties. There will be more changes to the rules in order to accommodate VAR, which is such a shame as it is slowly ruining football for me.
@JoeO: The offside rule is still the exact same, it’s just that assistant referees know if their decision is wrong they can go back to it after the play finishes rather than stopping an attack then being proven wrong by VAR and having no idea how to restart.
The technology exists to put a chip in the ball and monitor where it is on the pitch at all times. Easily done.
@Mick O’Shea: That is already done no? The goal line technology used the past three years.
The new handball rule is there to justify VAR and nothing else, is absolutely rediculous, nonsensical and cannot last. It is driving viewers round the bend.
@Sheila Teehan: if that’s the case, how does the new rule justify VAR?
I feel that the new handball rule is causing a lot of anger and VAR is the scapegoat. It’s dodgy now but it’ll be fine in a year
Lot of experts on here.