Sports networks always seem to be looking for new opportunities to keep things fresh on their broadcasts.
TNT, however, may have taken that directive too far Wednesday evening.
During Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the 76ers and Celtics in Boston, the network flew a drone over the TD Garden floor to provide a supplemental camera angle. Additionally, the drone was clearly visible from the game’s main camera angle.
The picture displayed by the small craft was widely derided in social media, as was its presence in the main picture. The production distracted from a strong first-half performance by Boston, led by guard Jaylen Brown.
TNT has a drone camera flying around for the Sixers-Celtics game in Boston.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 4, 2023
Here, you can see the drone being visible from the main broadcast angle, followed by a view from the drone, and then back to the drone being visible on the main angle. 🏀📺🎥 pic.twitter.com/BtmAd2wBL1
Viewers took to comparing the drone to some of Turner Sports’s more suspect aesthetic NBA playoff choices.
TNT saw the tweets about the drones and got rid of it faster than the Dr. Pimple Popper ads.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) May 4, 2023
Some suggested the league was accidentally turning back the clock.
The drone footage TNT using for this Sixers/Celtics game pic.twitter.com/L0nT5qoxE8
— Blazers Palace (@blazers_palace) May 4, 2023
Philadelphia fans threatened to take matters into their own hands.
Philly will take care of the TNT drone at the Wells Fargo Center pic.twitter.com/ucLexknkxE
— Elizabeth (@TheJawnOfTime) May 4, 2023
Still more questioned whether a postseason game was a time or place for experimentation.
TNT experimenting with low quality drone footage like this isn’t a playoff game lmao
— jeff (@retrojeffhoops) May 4, 2023
