August 6, 1956 – There used to be another major television network that had sports on TV. That was the American national broadcaster DuMont Television Network who after filing for bankruptcy in 1955, made its final broadcast, a boxing match from St. Nicholas Arena. Dumont was one of the first broadcasters to have live NFL games beamed to living rooms across the nation.
The relationship with the NFL spanned from 1951 through 1955, not exactly banner years for the NFL in terms of popularity. Had they been able to last a few more years as a network when the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants was the first ever NFL playoff game to go into sudden-death overtime. The “Greatest Game” set Professional football and television on a launch to bigger and better things.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network

Muhammad Ali’s Chin: Knocked Down Only 4 Times
Muhammad Ali’s boxing career is well documented, so instead of going over his entire

Remembering the 1973 Denver Broncos
The 1973 Denver Broncos were indeed a special team. They were the first Denver

Remarkable Resilience: The Epic Reversals of Fate in Sports
Championships have never been sports’ main motivation. The most unforgettable instances occur when a

Microstakes and Faucets: How Tiny ETH Bets Still Add Up Over Time
Tiny ETH bets feel light because they don’t look like the money use every

Larry Brown – Is He Hall of Fame Worthy?
A committee member recently asked me my opinion on inducting former Washington Redskins running

Three Nations Looking To Break Long-Standing Curses at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The League of Ireland Premier Division stands as the pinnacle of domestic soccer in

1970s Minnesota Vikings : Would A Better QB Helped Them Win A Super Bowl?
Here’s a question I often hear, especially from Minnesota Vikings fans: Would the 1970

The 7 Most Successful Athletes From Delaware in the Last 20 Years
Delaware may stand as the second smallest state, but it has delivered some of