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
The Origins of Golf: A Deep Dive into the History of the Sport
The origin story of golf, one of the most popular sports that is played
1970 New York Yankees: New Hope?
Every dedicated baseball fan knows that the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball
From 0–26 to NFC Contender: The Buccaneers’ Epic 1979 Rebirth
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began as an expansion team in the NFL in 1976.
New Life With A New Team (1970s Players Switching Teams)
There were several prominent NFL players during the 1970s who were traded or waived
Dropping Back: Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh’s Man of Steel
Chuck Noll agreed to do one ad during his 23 years as head coach
1981 Cincinnati Bengals – From Underdogs to AFC Champions
The Cincinnati Bengals joined the AFL in 1968 and were the last expansion team
Why 1973 Minnesota Vikings Were Best Team of Decade
The common opinions that I have read regarding the best Minnesota Vikings team of
Mike Ditka: Ukrainian American Football Legend
Last year, Mike Ditka, a former American football player, coach, and television commentator, celebrated