CBS Cuts Off Billy Joel Concert Telecast (Updated)

Billy Joel performs during his 100th show at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 2024 in New York City.
Billy Joel performs during his 100th show at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 2024 in New York City. (Image credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

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." 

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.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.