ABC station accidentally switches Pacers-Celtics to ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’

The Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers’ Game 4 matchup aired Sunday on ABC affiliates across the country, but NBA fans in the nation’s No. 12 media market didn’t get to see the final three minutes of the first half.

Instead, they were treated to America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Phoenix’s ABC affiliate, KNXV-TV, inadvertently switched its broadcast to a re-run of AFV at 11 a.m. local time, leaving NBA fans in the area confused and tweeting angrily at the station to address the issue.

This was what happened shortly after Myles Turner threw down a thunderous dunk on the Celtics’ Gordon Hayward. They got a greeting from Alfonso Ribeiro.

WAIT WHAT IS GOING ON ABC? WTF???

IT JUST CUT FROM THE CELTICS/PACERS TO AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4eWoCbwTVp

— Cameron Richardson (@therichreport) April 21, 2019

It took around 10 minutes for the issue to be resolved, and fans weren’t happy. Some blamed the dunk itself.

Turner dunk on that boy so hard they turned the game off on @abc15 they got AFV on now damn pic.twitter.com/N1FHcKWXTp

— Jim Viza (@JimmyViza) April 21, 2019

This dunk broke the TV signal. Next thing you knew after Hayward was posterized was America’s Funniest Home Vidéos came on. Ironic?

— Sam Ballard (@ballard12_sam) April 21, 2019

In 1968 NBC cut off coverage of an NFL game for a movie and viewers missed a thrilling finish.
It's not even halftime and ABC (at least here in AZ) is airing AFV. https://t.co/5qihBds5s4

— Matt Kling (@MrMattKling) April 21, 2019

@abc15 what happened to the basketball game????? Why is AFV on???????

— David (@DavidV27) April 21, 2019

Hey @abc15 , how about you bring back the @NBA Playoffs!!

— Jeremy Gunderson (@TheJeremy_G) April 21, 2019

Someone goin' to jail for this @abc15, back to the game please

— Nap Time! (@Romejohnson109) April 21, 2019

@abc15 What just happened? I was watching the Celtics – Pacers game and then it just switched to some Americas funniest home videos nonsense. Give me my game back!

— Jordan Garneau (@jgarneau93) April 21, 2019

Yooooooooooooo @abc15 what’s up with the games? Alfonso is cool but I rather watch the game and prefer him as Carlton!

— Timothy Lynn (@TimothyLynn333) April 21, 2019

Bro ABC just changed the Celtics/Pacers game to AFV & it’s not going back to the game😤

— Darvis Fletcher (@DarvisF3) April 21, 2019

The station issued a response and claimed that it was a national issue. Despite that explanation, the only complaints about the AFV mixup came from Twitter users in the Phoenix market.

Hello. There was a problem on the grid that broadcasts the game. It was a national problem, not a local one. The game should be back now. Apologies for the inconvenience.

— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) April 21, 2019

If this was truly a national issue, you’d see a massive uproar from fans — especially in Boston and Indianapolis markets. There wasn’t any of that on Sunday.

Luckily for Arizona NBA fans, the issue was resolved before the second half started.