USA Network showing end of basketball game instead of Rolex 24 has race fans fuming
The 24-hour racing marathon that is the Rolex 24 at Daytona has had a busy start. Unfortunately, some fans watching on TV might have missed some of it: not for a Brad Pitt sighting, but for a college basketball game.
It was a bit of bad timing. NBC started airing the 2024 Rolex 24 and handed off TV coverage to USA Network at 2:30. However, racing fans flipping channels were greeting to roughly 25 minutes of the end of Fordham vs. Duquesne men's basketball.
See, USA was showing that game already, which was supposed to feed neatly into the network's race coverage for the afternoon. Problem was the game went long, which got a lot of racing fans very upset on social media.
(Duquesne won 68-59, in case you were curious.)
Fans watching the online stream on Peacock were not interrupted, but not everyone is a subscriber to NBC's streaming service.
Here's a look at just some of the reactions from angry racing fans:
I CAN'T WATCH THE ROLEX 24 BECAUSE OF FORDHAM VS. DOQUESNE??? 🤬 pic.twitter.com/eSCJs3cqkX
— Gage O'Leary Sports (@Gage_Sports_54) January 27, 2024
What I'm watching is Fordham basketball. Duquesne must be having a great year huh? Rolex 24 happens ONCE a YEAR, and we can't watch because of the all important Fordham Duquesne game
— Michael Ackley (@mackley69) January 27, 2024
Never mind lol fordham-Duquesne still has five minutes to go
— swoleman hawkins (steve braun) (@thumpasaurus1) January 27, 2024
@IMSA @MotorsportsNBC @Rolex24Hours what’s up guys USA has a basketball game only in the second quarter. Where’s the Rolex race?
— Lisa (@lmhracer) January 27, 2024
Once again, basketball is interrupting the Rolex 24 @ Daytona. @USANetwork @NBCNetwork @DAYTONA #Rolex24
— Chris Gould BMX (@ChrisGould88) January 27, 2024
I hate college basketball so much. I want to watch the Rolex 24 but the fordham Duquesne game will never end. The final 5 min of a CBB game will last like 40 min
— Michael (@Enspist145) January 27, 2024
rolex 24 is currently being blocked on national TV because of fordham vs duquesne lol
— cortado jones 🚂 (@JamesKnowsBall_) January 27, 2024
Literally shows Rolex 24 on USA go to that channel after the first hr program goes off and USA network has basketball instead. Cool😒
— Huckleberry (@k_stumler) January 27, 2024
Dear @USANetwork you suck. Put the Rolex 24 on as scheduled 😡😡😡
— Dog Dad The Pilot (@TeamBubba23) January 27, 2024
WTF @XfinitySupport ???
Does this look like the Rolex race?!!! pic.twitter.com/FDNS3ptkoL— John Waldenberger (@walden4pa53) January 27, 2024
Hey @FordhamMBB and @DuqMBB stop fouling each other and end your game already, I wanna watch the Rolex 24
— 2023 Fútbol National Champs (@fordnotferrari) January 27, 2024
fordham and duquesne owe me and every other rolex 24 viewer restitution for this. 30 mins of the worst cbb i've ever seen instead of racing
— Pichulupa (@pichulupa) January 27, 2024
Peacock stream doesn't appeal to some Rolex 24 racing fans
Fans could stream the entire race without needing to jump between TV channels by watching coverage on Peacock. But that costs $5.99 per month with no free trial, so not everyone was interested.
So I turn to the USA network to see the Rolex 24 hour race and there's basketball.
No, I don't have Peacock and I'm not going to. 😡— Mary Lou Briggs (@totalsilliness) January 27, 2024
@IMSA Can’t watch Rolex 24 because @peacock still thinks I’ll subscribe pic.twitter.com/0LFLqMPXbl
— -R (@SoberHighDrunk) January 27, 2024
I wish Peacock would stop trying to be relevant. I’m just trying to watch the Rolex 24, and im not signing up and paying for a service ill never use again to do so.
— BladeIGuess (@GuessitsBlade) January 27, 2024
Well, can't say they didn't try.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fordham-Duquesne basketball delays Rolex 24 at Daytona coverage