WRAL-TV news director Rick Gall hasn't counted the calls, but he said his station received "a lot" from disgruntled basketball fans who were tuned into Saturday's Duke-Clemson ACC Tournament semifinal game.

The fan frustration started near the end of the first half, when WRAL interrupted the basketball telecast to report a tornado in Moore County. Then it showed the basketball game in a small box and a meteorologist on the same screen for about 45 minutes.

A law enforcement officer reported seeing the funnel cloud, further validating the weather radar report, Gall said.

"Warnings were issued in other [counties] as well, a series of tornado and thunderstorm warnings,'' Gall said. "Our policy in tornado warnings, when there is imminent threat of danger, we go on the air.

"The timing couldn't have been worse. It was one of the most watched games of the year, and we are affecting how people watch the game. Ultimately, it comes down to our unyielding commitment to providing community service, particularly in life threatening situations."

Gall said he realized it was difficult for people to read the score in the small box showing the basketball game and noted that station officials were reviewing how they managed the situation.

"If there are things we can do to do a better job, we will do that,'' he said. "It was a tough spot for us to be in. When we try to make a decision, we always err on the side of providing information critical to public safety."