When it's time to cheer on your favorite team or athlete, that sports coverage may cause 13WMAZ to shorten or run out of time for the local newscast. It's called a preemption.
Karen wrote to us wondering why we allow tennis, golf, and other sports to interfere with the evening news.
"Preemptions create confusion and disappointment. Even the most popular programs will get general complaints, and we know that, but contractually, these are big events, and we're proud to be a CBS affiliate and we're proud to carry those shows," said 13WMAZ General Manager Jeff Dudley.
When this happens, 13WMAZ may air a shorter newscast, or run a full one later than usual.
During regularly scheduled sports events like college football or the NFL, we may air a 6 p.m. webcast with local news and weather on our website, 13wmaz.com
Preemptions don't just come from sports. Breaking news and weather coverage could change the station's lineup as well.
"If breaking news or weather coverage preempts a regularly scheduled show, we will make every effort to try to schedule that show in the overnight time period where people can record the program," said Dudley.
When we plan to re-air a show, we want to get the word out to as many viewers as we can, so when possible, we'll announce it during a newscast or on our website.