Unrest in France has Hearst Station Pulling the Plug

When the Pittsburgh Steelers booked a trip across the Atlantic to face the New Orleans Saints in Paris, local sportsrooms naturally started packing their bags. But if you’re Hearst Television, the calculus of international travel just got weighed against safety, and safety won.

WTAE Sports Director Andrew Stockey shared on social media that management pulled the plug on sending a crew to France, citing ongoing civil unrest and violent protests in the region.

While Stockey admitted his initial disappointment, he tipped his cap to the corporate backing: "While I am disappointed, it's not only understandable, but also comforting to know your employer has your best interest and welfare at heart. I will still be part of the team covering this historic contest on Channel 4. I will just be doing it from Pittsburgh and not Paris."

It wasn't just a local call in the Steel City. Down in New Orleans, Hearst sister station WDSU-TV made the exact same pivot, keeping its sports crew home as well. The simultaneous pullbacks strongly point to a broader, companywide travel directive from Hearst corporate rather than isolated station-level choices.

The NFL is pressing forward with Sunday’s matchup at the Stade de France with heightened security, and both WTAE and WDSU will still blanket the game locally via NFL Network agreements. But in an era where station budgets and risk management are under the microscope, Hearst decided some road trips just aren't worth the baggage.