Why are Sports Pre-emptions such a problem?

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I don't know why sports are such a problem for stations. If the
Basketball (or whatever) game starts at 7 p.m., you show the first hour
live, and then you flash:

"to be continued at 10 p.m."

SoHillsGuy...

No one in their right mind is ever going to show half of a live
sporting event and then tape delay the remainder to show regular
programming. Insane idea.

across the screen..... and then Switch over to 24, Smallville, Seventh
Heaven, or whatever other drama is showing new episodes. A simple
solution that keeps the network happy (high ratings), the sports fans
happy (they get to see their game at 10), and the Drama fans happy
(they get to see their show at its regular 8/9 p.m. slot, instead of 3
a.m. Sunday).

Bill Steele...

Ain't gonna happen. A decision was made very early in the history of TV
that sports would trump anything else, anywhere, anytime. The one time
it didn't happen -- the infamous Heidi incident -- only reinforced the
standard.

What's needed is for networks and local stations to do their preemptions
intelligently, with respect (OK, stop laughing, I know that ain't gonna
happen) for the viewers. "Due to this cricket game running overtime,
Smallville will be shown at 3 a.m. tomorrow morning." Fairly safe to
assume that everybody has a VCR these days. Better yet, they should
acknowledge in advance that the game will run overtime and offer an
alternative showing of the program that will be preempted, announced far
enough in advance that we can set our recorders.

A local station here schedules Ebert & Roeper at 7:30 Saturday, where it
is often preempted or "joined in progress." So they schedule another
regular showing at 4:30 a.m. They often screw up the schedule for
*that* but at least they're trying. Probably has nothing to do with the
viewers, but rather their barter syndication agreement.