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