The History of Sports Broadcasting

At First...

1912

The first broadcast of an official football game happened. The man behind the event, Professor F.W. Springer began creating an experimental radio station where people could dial-in to listen to a game from the University of Minnesota. https://radiofidelity.com/history-of-sports-broadcasting/

Rise of The Radio

Jul 2, 1921

The rise of radio didn’t just have a significant impact on the worlds of football and baseball. People also loved tuning into their sets to listen to boxing matches too. The first official boxing match to be broadcast on the radio happened. https://radiofidelity.com/history-of-sports-broadcasting/

First Baseball Broadcast

Aug 5, 1921

Though not officially classed as a Sports talk radio station at the time, the KDKA was responsible for broadcasting the first baseball game in Pittsburgh. https://radiofidelity.com/history-of-sports-broadcasting/

Major Sponsorship

1934

Ford Motor Co. had agreed to pay $100,000 a year for four years of sponsorship rights to the World Series on radio. https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/10/17/Opinion/Eldon-Ham.aspx

First NFL Broadcast

1939

The first NFL game hit the airways when the Philadelphia Eagles and the Brooklyn Dodgers Played. https://beonair.com/history-of-sports-broadcasting/

Building Popularity

1960

The NFL continued to build in popularity through the and it has become one of the most valuable brands in the world, bringing in over $5 billion in television broadcast revenue annually. https://beonair.com/history-of-sports-broadcasting/

Broadcasting Copyrights

1962

CBS payed the NFL $4.62 million for broadcast copyrights. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-13-sp-7916-story.html

The Olympics

1970

ABC Obtained rights to broadcast the Olympics https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2012/09/the-very-first-monday-night-football-game-aired-42-years-ago-today/

Grant Duel

1970

Grant duel allowed for coverage on both NBC and CBS https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nfl-and-afl-announce-merger

Broadcasters Are The Celebrities

1970

Broadcasters started becoming celebrities and making around 6-7 figures. https://www.therichest.com/sports-entertainment/net-worth-highest-paid-tv-broadcasters-sports/

Letting Fans Watch any NFL Game

1994

NFL Sunday Ticket launched (on DirecTV only) giving football fans the ability to choose any game they wanted, no matter what channel was carrying the game or where it was being played. https://www.businessinsider.com/evolution-how-we-watch-sports-2011-4#2005--live-sports-on-the-internet-13

First Down Marker

1998

TV introduced a glowing yellow first down indicator that only appears to TV viewers and doesn't obstruct their view of the game. https://www.businessinsider.com/evolution-how-we-watch-sports-2011-4#1998--the-1st-and-ten-line-debuts-10

3D Streaming

2009

They are starting to make 3d streaming services for people to watch the nfl or nba in 3d. https://www.businessinsider.com/evolution-how-we-watch-sports-2011-4#2005--live-sports-on-the-internet-13

4K Streaming

2015

4K has been limited to online services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, but as the technology becomes more affordable, the market is growing. Canada’s Videotron is already carrying live sports in 4K Ultra HD, showing select NHL and NBA games in the new format. https://www.workinsports.com/blog/4k-vr-and-drones-the-evolution-of-sports-broadcasting/

Finally

2015

Amari Cooper found out last year when a fourth quarter pass against the Kansas City Chiefs appeared to hit the Spidercam‘s wires, ending their chance of a comeback. https://www.workinsports.com/blog/4k-vr-and-drones-the-evolution-of-sports-broadcasting/