ITV's World Cup coverage was thrown into chaos on Wednesday when a lightning storm in New York forced pundits Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Patrick Vieira to abandon their rooftop studio and move indoors. The trio had been broadcasting from ITV's outdoor New York loft during the build-up to France's match against Morocco, but the deteriorating weather left them with no choice but to relocate.
Lightning Triggers Safety Protocols
Presenter Mark Pougatch confirmed the sudden change as coverage resumed following an interview with England star Djed Spence. "There's lightning in the area in New York, so the regulations dictate we've had to vacate our outdoor studio, so we've moved inside," Pougatch explained. The conditions in Boston, where France faced Morocco, were considerably more favourable, but the New York studio was directly affected by the storm.
ITV swapped their overcast outdoor backdrop for a smart lift alternative, ensuring minimal disruption to the broadcast. This was not the first time during the tournament that ITV had been forced indoors. Earlier in the month, Laura Woods, alongside Juan Mata, Patrick Vieira and Karen Carney, battled blustery conditions while covering Switzerland's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina before production moved inside later that evening. Clattering sounds could be heard in the background as Woods struggled to keep her hair under control.
Studio Praised Despite Weather Woes
Despite the odd weather-related hiccup, presenters and pundits have been full of praise for the studio that has served as their base throughout the World Cup. The ITV World Cup studio is situated at Panorama Brooklyn Studios on Columbia Heights, a building boasting panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River. The studio occupies a former Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters that has since been converted into a production complex.
"Welcome to our New York loft apartment, home for six weeks of coverage of the World Cup," ITV anchor Pougatch announced during the opening broadcast. "We hope you will love this view as much as we do, a view of the buildings of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge. You are thinking it must be AI; I promise you it is real." Roy Keane described the set as "amazing, fantastic," while Ian Wright added, "It's amazing, unbelievable set. It's the World Cup, it should be this, it should be grand, massive."
BBC's Different Approach
The response to ITV's studio has been markedly different to that received by the BBC. The rival broadcaster opted to stay in Salford for its coverage but looks set to fly out to the USA for the semi-final stage. The BBC holds 'first pick' for that phase of the competition, and should England progress, will be able to secure their semi-final clash against Argentina or Switzerland.
