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CBS Drops Digital Yard Lines After Snowy AFC Title Game Glitch

On-air criticism plus viewer complaints prompted a rollback of the overlay that made players appear transparent.

Overview

  • A gusty blizzard in Denver severely limited visibility for much of the second half of the AFC championship.
  • CBS introduced digitally imposed yard lines to help viewers follow the line of scrimmage once real markings were obscured.
  • The overlay conflicted with uniforms, most noticeably the Patriots’ white jerseys, causing players to look transparent on screen.
  • Viewers quickly criticized the effect on social media as Jim Nantz and Tony Romo noted they could not clearly see the ball or spot the mark.
  • By early in the fourth quarter the network removed the digital lines, and no additional technical explanation from CBS was reported.