Lightning KOs Starkville station carrying Auburn-MSU game

There’s inopportune timing. And then there’s this.

For the first-time ever, a pair of Top-Five teams will square off inside Davis Wade Stadium Saturday afternoon as No. 3 Mississippi State faces No. 2 Auburn. It will be one of the biggest home games in the history of the MSU football program... and one that may not be seen by as many of the locals in their own living rooms as initially thought.

According to WCBI-TV, the Starkville CBS affiliate that had been scheduled to air the game, a lightning strike Friday caused major damage to a transmitter that has taken the station off the air. The game is scheduled to kick-off at 3:30 ET, and will not air as previously planned on WCBI.

The good news, however, is that the television station has gone out of its way to ensure the game is available to what appears to be the majority of the consumers in the area.

We understand you depend on WCBI for CBS programming, that’s why in a matter of hours WCBI authorized the satellite providers and most of the area cable providers to carry a CBS affiliate signal to air in the viewing area. This agreement will ensure satellite and most area cable customers will be able to watch the Auburn vs. Mississippi State game on CBS at 2:30 P.M. CST.

Of course, if you’re not a part of the “most area cable companies” or rely on the trusty ol’ antennae to pull in a TV signal, you’re screwed.

Hopefully -- unless you’re an AU fan, of course -- the lightning strike and damaged transmitter does not portend doom and gloom for the home team.