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
What’s The Right Amount of Weight Training?
I recently heard a weightlifting coach say that overtraining doesn’t exist. That’s a very
Bart Starr: The GOAT at Quarterback in Green Bay Packers History
The Green Bay Packers have an illustrious history of greatness at the quarterback position.
Remembering the First Wildcard Weekend of the 1970s
The 1978 NFL season incorporated a bunch of changes that resulted in important changes
How Have Soccer Rules Changed Over Time?
Watch a soccer match in 2026 and compare it to the earliest footage we
The Monsters of the Midway: Inside the 1940s Chicago Bears Dynasty
The Chicago Bears franchise started in 1919 as the Decatur Staleys. The Staleys were
The Evolution of Football Tactics Through the Decades
Football became a game of strategy, a battle for control of every blade of
The Evolution of Sports Betting and Its Influence on Historic Sporting Moments
The sports betting industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, shifting
The Evolution of Triathlon Pacing: From Iron Men to Digital Calculators
Triathlon is one of the youngest major sports with a specific, documentable origin story.