September 30, 1939…First Televised Football Game Broadcast By NBC

All the details are below in my previous post on this occasion. Hope your teams win this weekend! -Bobby Ellerbee

College Football Starts This Week…Here’s The First TV Game

The first ever telecast of a football game was done from Triborough Stadium in Randall’s Island NY, on Saturday, September 30, 1939 by NBC. This was the season opener between Fordham University and Waynseburg College.

Two cameras were used, the one shown above on the sidelines for closeups, and another in the press box for broader perspectives. Although there were probably less than 500 sets in the area then, viewers within 50 miles of NBC’s Manhattan transmitter could follow the action from home.

The telecast was relayed from the field by ultra short wave radio to the main transmitter of Station W2XBS via the world’s first mobile unit which we see below. This is a two bus unit with one fitted for transmission only and the other outfitted for camera and audio control.

Next Saturday is the Georgia-Clemson battle here in Athens. I’ll be there! Go Dawgs! Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee

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