CBS will re-air Sunday's Billy Joel concert telecast this Friday (April 19) after several CBS-affiliated stations abruptly cut part of Sunday's telecast of the singer’s taped concert performance.
In a statement Monday, the network said that "a network programming timing error" ended it's telecast of The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden – The Greatest Arena Run of All Time approximately two minutes early in the Eastern and Central Time Zones.
"We apologize to Mr. Joel, his fans, our affiliated stations and our audience whose viewing experience was interrupted during the last song," CBS said in its statement. "Due to the overwhelming demand from his legion of fans, Billy Joel: The 100th -- Live At Madison Square Garden will be rebroadcast in its entirety on CBS on April 19th at 9:00 PM ET/PT."
UPDATE: Statement from @CBS, concerning last night Billy Joel concert broadcast: pic.twitter.com/XZF0il8xfuApril 15, 2024
The concert is also available on the Paramount Plus streaming service.
The taped concert was slated to air on CBS stations Sunday from 9 pm. to 11 p.m., but was delayed by the network’s extended live coverage of the Masters PGA golf tournament before several CBS-affiliated stations in the Eastern and Central Time Zones prematurely ended the telecast in favor of its scheduled 11 p.m. local news telecasts, according to published reports.
The concert telecast reportedly ended in the middle of Joel’s performance of his iconic The Piano Man song, further angering viewers who took to social media to complain about the decision.
Billy Joel fans might burn CBS and its affiliates to the ground after cutting Piano Man off during the last verse… to play the local news on time.April 15, 2024
How do you cut a Billy Joel Concert in the Middle of Piano Man?! pic.twitter.com/QI409AwaxQApril 15, 2024
Viewers throughout the Eastern and Central Time Zones had the broadcast of the Billy Joel concert cut off, mid-Piano Man. Evidently, CBS was no longer in the mood for a melody. pic.twitter.com/bVlcIReRXnApril 15, 2024
