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ESPN/ABC Uses Twin Towers Footage During Knicks-Heat Broadcast

Several fans noticed b-roll of the World Trade Center being used during Game 1 of the Knicks-Heat series.

Joseph Salvador

ESPN/ABC Uses Twin Towers Footage During Knicks-Heat Broadcast
ESPN/ABC Uses Twin Towers Footage During Knicks-Heat Broadcast /
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During the ESPN on ABC broadcast of Game 1 between the Knicks and Heat on Sunday, NBA fans noticed a jarring video used as b-roll of Manhattan. The broadcast was using a video of the Statue of Liberty, but in the background, the Twin Towers could be seen. 

Naturally, fans didn’t care for the use of the World Trade Center that was destroyed in a terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. It lead to Twitter users questioning whether ABC had any recent video of Manhattan. Even if they didn’t for some odd reason, any other video clip that didn’t include the Twin Towers would have sufficed. 

Outkick reached out to ESPN for comment and the company responded with, “We mistakenly used an old stock image and we apologize,” in a statement. The ABC broadcast features ESPN analysts, reporters and announcers because ESPN is 80% owned by ABC, an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

Here are some reactions from NBA fans who noticed the blunder and called out ABC and ESPN: 

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Joseph Salvador
JOSEPH SALVADOR

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