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
Every Ball Can Change the Odds: Why Cricket Is Built for Live Betting
A sport where the game can change 240 times in a match Six months
Seahawks Remain the NFC West’s Measuring Stick After Wild Openers to 2026 Season
Melbourne Cricket Ground, the site of the Rams’ Week 1 stunner – Source: Unsplash
What Actually Makes a FUT Card a Smart Long-Term Hold
EA Sports FC 27 is a football video game, and its most popular mode,
5 Best Places to Buy a Golf Simulator: A Complete Buyer’s Guide
Photo by Mariah Hewines on Unsplash Golf simulators are a serious investment, and there’s
Ontario’s Long History of Betting on Its Own Games
Ontario’s long history of betting on its own games. Long before anyone in Ontario
Chuck Bednarik: The Legacy of NFL’s Last Two-Way Player
Just say the name Chuck Bednarik (bed-nare-ick) and you can be certain you’re not talking
Mark Morthier’s Favorite Sport Cards (1972 – 1989)
Although I was never a big hockey fan, I would consider myself a NY
NFL Over/Under Lines: What Past Scoring Trends Could Mean for 2026
NFL scoring patterns rarely stay the same from one season to the next. Offensive