A documentary about the tragedy of The “Titan” submersible, which was airing at the same time the five passengers were confirmed dead by authorities on Thursday, drew criticism from viewers for its hasty airing.
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“I feel a bit sad watching this Channel 5 ‘documentary’ which is really just a live special. Especially after today’s debris news. It’s just a bit early for that,” a social media viewer reacted on Friday, according to The Independent.
The show, titled Titanic Sub: Lost at Sea, tells the story of the research submarine that was supposed to allow five billionaires to explore the remains of Titanic’s sinking before it was reported missing last Sunday.
But while the planet nervously counted down the hours until the submarine lost its last reserves of oxygen, Britain’s TV network reportedly decided to air its documentary about the tragedy just an hour after the macabre count ended.
Wreckage of the submarine had been found that morning, causing the authorities to fear the worst, who eventually confirmed the complete deaths of the five passengers during the broadcast.
“I can’t believe Channel 5 is showing this show live on Titanic Submarine. Disgusting, distasteful and utterly disgusting of them,” a second reportedly wrote, while a third instead called the show “macabre,” according to the British outlet.
For his part, Ian Rumsey, content director of ITN, which produced the documentary, emphasized the “very human” side of the show, pointing out that it is about the rescue and the testimonies of the families of the passengers, but also about shipping and the ascent of extreme tourism.
“Our expertise and heritage in fast-moving documentaries, as well as our reputation for responsible cinema, mean we always treat these stories with great sensitivity,” he said in a statement before airing, The Independent reported.