Satellite communications problems blacked out Sky TV and Freeview coverage of American Michael Phelps beating New Zealand's Moss Burmester in the 200m butterfly final at the Beijing Olympics today, TVNZ said.
"It was a satellite glitch - I don't have any more information than that immediate," said a TVNZ spokeswoman.
Thousands of New Zealanders missed out on much of the race -- in which Burmester led for the first 100m before finishing fourth -- but the spokeswoman said technicians were trying to put a recording of the crucial race on to the TVNZ website.
Viewers relying on the ordinary terrestrial signal from the national chain of TV translators were not affected.
TVNZ was also expected to play the finish of the race on its news broadcast. NZPA WGT kca kk gt