Sky Sports News was hit by a significant technical failure on Thursday afternoon, leaving viewers baffled after the broadcast abruptly cut out. The disruption occurred just moments after the highly anticipated round of 16 draw for the Vertu Trophy had been completed on air.
The Draw and The Disappearance
The build-up to the malfunction was routine. Host Will Perry was presenting the live draw, flanked by former EFL stars Luke Chambers and Jobi McAnuff. Together, they revealed the fixtures for the competition, which features League One and League Two clubs alongside select Premier League Under-21 teams.
However, shortly after the final ball was drawn, the programme suddenly vanished from screens. It was replaced by a stark message of apology that read: 'We're really sorry for this temporary fault.' For several minutes, the channel was incapacitated, with only the familiar yellow ticker-tape at the bottom of the screen confirming the feed was still partially active.
Adverts and a Return to Normal
Following the blank screen, the broadcast transitioned to a series of adverts that ran for more than five minutes as technicians scrambled to resolve the issue behind the scenes. This extended break left fans curious and speculating about the root of the problem on social media platforms.
Eventually, the programme was restored. When it returned, Matt Kabir Floyd had taken over presenting duties. The broadcast continued as if nothing had happened, with no on-air mention or explanation offered for the unexpected outage that had momentarily derailed the sports news channel.
What Happens Next?
While the immediate technical glitch was resolved, the incident highlights the potential fragility of live broadcasting. For a channel dedicated to breaking sports news, such interruptions can be particularly disruptive for an audience expecting real-time updates. The cause of the fault remains officially unconfirmed by Sky Sports.
