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 Makes the Masters Unique to the Other Golf Majors?
Every year, golf’s biggest names gather in Georgia for the most recognisable tournament in
The Nesser Brothers: Pro Football’s Forgotten Pioneers
Back in the prehistoric days of professional football, a family of rugged, tough as
How Pickleball Grew From Backyard Game to Global Phenomenon
Imagine you’re a kid tagging along with your parents, they just finished a game
How the Super Bowl Became America’s Biggest Betting Event
The Super Bowl began as a relatively niche event. It didn’t attract the enormous
A Brief History of Predicting Sports Outcomes
Pick any bar during a big game and you’ll hear the same sound: confidence.
How Tragic Stadium Accidents Led to Nationwide Safety Protocols
Have you ever paused during a thrilling game to consider the unseen safeguards keeping
How New England’s History Is Influencing Patriots Super Bowl Odds in 2026
Sportsbooks don’t price New England like a typical market. They price the Patriots with
Laws, Lines, and Leaps: The Evolution of Sports Gambling Culture
It’s been a wild ride for sports gambling, from back-alley bets to billion-dollar industries,