Why don't they show the national anthem on tv?

Question

It seems like every time I watch a game on tv, unless someone "famous" is singing it, they cut away from the national anthem to show commercials. Are these tv stations just really unpatriotic and money-hungry that they need to show 2 minutes of commercials instead of the Star Spangled Banner or is there some other reason they don't show it?

Answer 1

Interesting. On a different note, why do celebrities have to "stupid up" the anthem whenever they sing it? Can't they just sing it normal? The best version of the anthem I've ever heard was at a baseball game where someone not so famous was singing it. That was live though, so I'm not sure if it was aired on TV.

Answer 2

Different anthem here, but similar principles. ;-) Over here it's not so much whether someone famous is singing it, but whether it's an important game. For minor games they usually don't show it (though this also varies by sport). For major games (finals and so on) they extend the pre-game segment quite a bit, presumably because they know they'll have the audience more or less captive, and as a sort of side effect this means they show the anthem as well.

Really, though, is there any particular reason they should be televising the anthem for every game? I don't think it makes the stations particularly unpatriotic not to show it - they have better things to do with their time, and frankly, so do I.

Now for international games, it does make sense to play each side's national anthem before the game, and I've enjoyed watching that recently in the rugby union world cup. But n local games, what particular point is it supposed to make? What makes sport an inherently patriotic activity when both teams are from the same country?

Answer 3

Of the sporting events I've watched I have seen almost no games that have shown commercials during the National Anthem. I am quite sure that the four major US sports (hockey, football, baseball, & basketball) all have requirements to play the anthem before the start of each game (US and the other country's anthem if Canada, Japan, etc... has a delegation).

as for technical difficulties, i've seen that before, and that is unavoidable. But for intentional showing of commercials, I personally have not seen that yet.

Answer 4

At all the Chicago Cubs games, they show the anthem in its entireity, regardless who is singing it. What I hate is....when they get some "screacher" to sing it, and on the high notes, they really show off by screaching as high as they can.
Black women are usually famous for screaching the words.
I just love it when they have military jets fly over, at the proper time in the song. Yeah.!!!!!!

Answer 5

The Royals & Chiefs broadcasts always show the anthem before games, Most of the national broadcasts are liberal jerks, so what do you expect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Terry

Answer 6

Because they want money for commercials

Answer 7

Maybe they think that less people will watch the program if its not someone "famous".