The CRAZIEST CBS BROADCASTING CONTROVERSY of the 1981 NFL Season

During week 16 of the 1981 NFL season, just about everyone in Shreveport, Louisiana, and understandably so, expected CBS to televise the contest between the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints. However, to the shock of just about everyone, WSLA, the CBS affiliate there, aired the Lions/Buccaneers game instead, leading to chaos ensuing. This is the story behind this crazy broadcasting controversy
NOTE: There is a weird audio glitch around the 9 minute mark that I'm not sure how it happened (it was not there when I exported the file). It does not impact the video or the substance in it whatsoever, but just something to keep in mind
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[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

NOTE: For some reason that I'm not entirely sure of, there is a minor audio glitch at the 9:00 mark. It does not impact the information in the video whatsoever, and to my knowledge, it's the only audio glitch there is. Apologies for that! UPDATE: Apparently there's a few times where this happens. Thanks for pointing that out! It wasn't like that when I exported the file, so something must've gone awry somewhere unfortunately

[@michaelhodilofficial]

There's one around the 7:15 mark. And 9:55. And 10:52. And 11:12. Sorry for the multiple edits, just trying to help you out. Love the content and keep it up! 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@kevingreen2400]

It sounds like your audio editing was overlapping on your segments

[@willosotherworld7109]

9:57, 10:52, 11:10

[@thomascrowley9122]

That wasn't the only glitch

[@jimsturm2061]

I’m honestly amazed, considering you release 15 min videos daily, that you don’t have more awkward cuts. You do such a good and through job with your videos, and are the hardest working KZbinr I’ve seen. KEEP UP THE WORK

[@LogoAttitude]

This was the first of 12 consecutive years the Bucs and Saints, now division rivals, played each other in a non-division game, still an NFL record.

[@Hutch72284]

It's cool to hear this because I live in the Shreveport market and watch KSLA. For tnose not familiar with our area the call letters stand for K Shreveport Louisiana hence KSLA.

[@RetroJR3379]

I wouldve gone with the Bucs/Lions.

[@trueneutral3092]

You clearly don't understand Saints fans.

[@Musicradio77Network]

WCBS-TV (channel 2) in New York City did aired the 49ers/Saints game at 1PM and then the Buccaneers/Lions game at 4PM, and there was no local NY team on Sunday, because they had the Giants/Cowboys game the day before which was Saturday.

[@tomsmith5584]

The problem with your analysis is that Tacoma is part of the Seattle media market. A better example would be if the CBS affiliate in Grand Junction, Colorado didn't show the Denver Broncos game in favor of a Cleveland Browns/Cincinnati Bengals matchup.

[@someperson3883]

That would be like New Orleans and Baton Rouge

[@tomsmith5584]

@@someperson3883 An even better example would be Columbus, Ohio not taking a Browns or Bengals game.

[@someperson3883]

@@tomsmith5584 I’m talking about with Tacoma

[@markofly76]

A better example would be if Spokane did not get the Seahawks game and instead got an NFC East Battle instead. Tacoma is about 30 miles south of Seattle.

[@jonshaw4948]

Having grown up in the 80's in Shreveport I can attest to the absolute ignorance of his viewers this man shown. It is still really split here between Cowboys and Saints fans and the Fox station, KMSS; also has to try and appease both fanbases.

[@chrisstyles5955]

It upsets me too. I live in LOUISIANA, not Texas. I dont wanna watch "americas" team. I wanna see Louisiana's team.

[@patrickstogsdill74]

That's crazy 🤪

[@arkhamgamingnetwork991]

Luckily I live really close to New Orleans so I think they're obligated to show the saints where I live. The only time we don't get a saints game is when either they're on their by week or they play another day

[@kwbjlive3863]

Yep. Shreveport is less than 200 miles from Dallas, but about 450 miles from New Orleans. It's more Texas than Louisiana

[@thomascrowley9122]

Definitely should show the games with playoff implications over meaningless one

[@trueneutral3092]

In an area where people would collectively, without question, spitefully turn the TV off and not watch anything than reward a station manager that dissed their local team in such a public way? What purpose would that serve? Keep in mind that sports betting was not the main reason people watched the NFL back then.

[@johnwiesner9590]

There are people in Detroit who at times don't want to see a Lions game.

[@luisreyes1963]

I reckon 96.5% of the population of Detroit. ☹️

[@davidtropps4380]

We are idiots. No matter what we say about the Lions, Lions' fans always want the Lions' game on.

[@Blufftown]

Happens all the time here. Little Rock should have the Tennessee Titans as the AFC team. Instead, the Pittsburgh Steelers get shown over here.

[@MikeyLew47]

I live in the Harrisburg/Lancaster/York, PA market. NFC games are usually Philadelphia, AFC is always a conflict between Pittsburgh and Baltimore (York, PA is about 50 miles down I-83 to downtown.) I can’t imagine a scenario where the Steelers and/or Ravens are playing, and WHP (our CBS affiliate goes “Nah, Dolphins and Chargers are battling in a win and your in. We’ll do that.” even if both the Steelers and Ravens are both 4-11.

[@altfactor]

I suspect Pat Summerall and John Madden were in Pontiac, Michigan that day and that the game was on most of the CBS network.

[@leogetz3570]

That would be my guess as well, especially since the Superbowl was in Pontiac that season

[@paulanderson6634]

No, they had done the Cowboys-Giants game the day before.

[@johnpazell8424]

The announcers for Bucs/ Lions was Dick Stockton and Johnny Morris. The #2 crew of Scully/Stram was at Packers/Jets. That appeared to be the main CBS game.

[@tommyparkerparker]

@@johnpazell8424 I'm surprised that Scully and Stram didn't call the Buc/Lions game. A much lucrative game that Sunday. The winner likely to face the Cowboys in the divisional round which Scully and Stram did and gave them a preview of the winning team. It would have been interesting if CBS would have given the Bus/Lions to Summerall and Madden pre rehearsal at the Silverdome for the Super Bowl but they did when they played the Cowboys in week 11. Put Scully and Stram on Giants/Cowboys Saturday national game but Stram did that game on CBS radio with Jack Buck. Brookshier/Staubach on GB/NYJ. Stockton/Morris StL/Philly.

[@KMcNally117]

9:00 JaguarGator8 and JaguarGator9 talking over each other.

[@harrymann5523]

Here is another thing. On the Bucs/Lions game, CBS did not send one of their top announce teams to broadcast the game. Pat Summerall and John Madden called the Saturday Cowboys-Giants game. And their number 2 announce team Vin Scully and Hank Stram was doing the Jets-Packers game. The announcers for Bucs-Lions game? Dick Stockton and Johnny Morris.

[@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup]

It figures. Nothing like disrespect for the Lions. One day in the not too distant Future I hope that this changes.

[@dkeat301]

They probably sent Johnny Morris because he was a Chicago guy, he did all the Bears games here, meaning he saw both teams, and was probably the most knowledgeable about both teams.

[@harrymann5523]

@@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup Let me add that their number 3 announce team Lindsey Nelson and George Allen called the meaningless Redskins-Rams game. The number 4 team Tom Brookshier and Roger Staubach was calling the Cardinals-Eagles game. Tim Ryan and Fred Dryer (yes the same Fred Dryer who played “Hunter” on television) called 49ers-Saints.

[@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup]

@@harrymann5523 I'm aware that Fred Dryer played for the Rams. Though I never saw him play It was said that he played like his hair was on fire. Also he scored one touchdown in his career. What I didn't know is that Roger Staubach was a Color Commentator. It makes sense that he was given that he was a prolific Quarterback for the Cowboys which translates to being a Color Commentator.

[@harrymann5523]

@@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup Staubach was with CBS from 1980 to 1982.

[@jourdanjones31]

It must have been bad football for Tampa Bay and Detroit Lions to be leading the division

[@chrisguardiano6143]

This actually happened with the Seahawks in the Vancouver Canada market on November 20th 2005 where CTV (who would normally air the Seahawks on Sundays due to them being the closest NFL team to Vancouver) decided to air the CFL Playoff game involving the local team the BC Lions instead (which ended in controversy thanks to a pass interference no-call) . However Seahawks fans that lived in Vancouver were still able to watch their team via KCPQ the Fox affiliate in Seattle because of how close they were to the border.

[@cpcva724]

The Vancouver station probably knew that making the decision easier

[@chrisguardiano6143]

@@cpcva724 exactly & until the CRTC (Canada's version of the FCC) tells Canadian cable companies to stop transmitting US local stations or tells the US local stations to stop transmitting up to cities in Canada such as Vancouver & Toronto, NFL fans in Canada especially ones who live near the border will still be able to watch their "local" NFL team via the US local stations if CTV (who have the rights to the NFL in Canada) chooses not to show them. In most cases, CTV just airs the local team without issue. By the way in cities that aren't near the border such as Montreal & Edmonton, CTV usually shows a triple-header of games as they show one CBS game at 1 ET, one Fox game at 4 ET (sometimes this is flip flopped) & SNF to round out the day at 8:20 ET.

[@TimmyTickle]

Didn't the CBC still have the CFL rights in 2005?

[@chrisguardiano6143]

@@TimmyTickle they did but they shared the rights with TSN/CTV until TSN got the exclusive CFL rights in 2008. This is why every CFL game that has been aired in the US since then has had the TSN logo & scorebug. The playoff game I mentioned in my comment aired on CTV while CBC had the Eastern division playoff game that took place before.

[@a.grimes4202]

I’m with the station manager here. The logic used is unimpeachable, despite all the outcry.

[@trueneutral3092]

Explain.

[@RetroJR3379]

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL YOU BEAT ME TO IT LOL.

[@jamesbonnen]

These people don't have AM radios . They could have multi tasked. Watch the game and listen to the Saints on the radio

[@JoeBatson]

Living in Cincinnati I am SICK of regional coverage. Now more than ever, there are more transplant (fans of teams outside a particular market) Yet I'm stuck watching the Bungles and NEVER get to see my Jaguars.

[@TimmyTickle]

And considering how both those teams have fared recently, your plight is not going to improve any time soon...

[@YautjaHunter3]

Another detail about Tampa. Their QB was Doug Williams, who played at Grambling. Tons of Grambling alums in that market. Not saying it was the right call. But may have played a role in the decision. Hell, Eddie Robinson himself may have requested the Tampa game.

[@barbarawatson4374]

I live in Portland oregon and i do like the fact that Seahawk games were always on. I am a Steeler fan. Never liked the Seahawks and one of the reason was the Seahawks shoved down our throats at the expense of being able to watch better games especially when the Seahawks were bad. So i can appreciate a station not showing a meaningless game and instead showing an important game with so much on the line

[@poisonoak2719]

Gotta say I’m on the station manager’s side, being a NY resident I often wish I could watch games with real playoff stakes instead of the Giants and Jets playing sorry football

[@trueneutral3092]

The will of the people (the majority) consuming the product should be the voice that prevails, especially in a localised situation like this, where little to know people in the area have any connection to these two teams. Don't see what case you could possibly have for forcing an overwhelming majority to watch something most of them are just going to turn off, negating the engire point (ratings) when they've already clearly told you what game would have put them in front of the TV. On top of this, Louisiana people are feisty. They would absolutely spite the TV station manager by never watching another game that season -- and would stick to it, too.

[@e93sports80]

There are a couple of moments in this video where the audio didn't sound right.

[@Jared40]

I know sounds like he is in submarine 😒

[@KXPriestess]

Your analogy using Tacoma at the beginning is not a correct analogy. Seeing that Tacoma is less than 75 miles from Seattle (About 40 miles) and KOMO is out of Seattle the Seahawks would be blacked out or shown no matter what. If you used Spokane or Yakima then the analogy works.

[@KXPriestess]

​@David Lim Bellingham still falls in the Seattle market so they would watch whatever is on KIRO or KCPQ if blackout rules were still a thing. You have to think about maybe like Medford, OR (KTVL or KMVU). That would more of a PNW "No Man's Land" (Between the 49ers & Seahawks).

[@ericmeyer3380]

Isn't Tacoma and Seattle the same market?

[@MarkAHoltz]

The funny part is that most of the clubs in District 50 Toastmasters are in the Dallas half of DFW, but also includes the clubs in Tyler, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana.

[@johnkerry6312]

Despicable ads

[@observer-effect]

Looking at this controversy from the station managers perspective Detroit vs Tampa was more likely to effect the playoff bound Cowboys that and if that seasons earlier Saints vs 49ers game had been carried on KSLA and done poorly the station manager might have decided to look at his various available options.

[@danielbowden6330]

Good thing he didn't air the New England at Baltimore game. So much was on the line there too, but for all the wrong reasons.

[@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup]

The Ravens did not begin as a team until 1996 when they moved from Cleveland.

[@Jared40]

That game would have been on NBC

[@danielbowden6330]

@@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup Baltimore Colts.

[@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup]

@@danielbowden6330 It would have been the Colts then.

[@cpcva724]

I live in the Hampton Roads market of Virginia (Williamsburg). It was extremely rare that the Colts would air here especially their home games with that screwy 2 pm start.

[@bens5661]

Uhh, what happened with the audio a couple times?

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

Yeah I’m not sure. Wasn’t like that at all when I exported the file

[@Tykoon22]

I know this isn’t the point, and I understand all the other factors involved, but the Saints and Cowboys should be in the same division -- Cowboys and Panthers should switch.

[@bullinmd]

Has there _ever_ been a market that *deliberately* refused to air a "market" team's game because that team was horrific due to continued bad ownership, coaching, or playing?

[@cpcva724]

The Fox stations in Richmond and Norfolk Virginia opted not to carry a redskins game a few years ago due to very poor play .

[@ElFuego35]

@@cpcva724 Happened Week 17 of 2010 with Carolina in the Greenville- New Bern NC market. That was the season Carolina went 2-14.

[@jmb01550]

One valid time where they would be no conflict would be on Thanksgiving because Dallas hosts on Thanksgiving and NO could play Dallas on Thanksgiving would be a win-win.

[@someperson3883]

Or just anytime New Orleans plays Dallas

[@jmb01550]

@@someperson3883 true.

[@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup]

It's happened.

[@someperson3883]

@@jmb01550 Yeah. I remember in 2010. You would think it could happen soon with the NFL putting the Saints on Thanksgiving 3 out of the last 4 years

[@steelersfan1903]

Thanks for the video! Does anyone happen to know any fights or brawls that occurred during the 1980, 1981, or 1982 NFL seasons?

[@CrazyGamer-og5nv]

I know they're not one and the same but Jag's style of videos reminds me of Mike Korzemba, who does KZbin videos about the NBA. They have very similar styles.

[@fumedrummer]

Holy shitty editing, Batman. I disagree with the conclusion that the station manager declared Shreveport to be Buccaneers territory. The market is an NFC market and deciding to show the Lions/Bucs game is a no brainer.

[@trueneutral3092]

You clearly don't understand how spiteful Saints fans are. They would rather not watch another NFL game all season long than allow a station manager to strong-arm / middle-finger them in such a blatant way. And, they'd absolutely follow through on it. Louisiana Saints fans are feisty, stubborn and principled.

[@cpcva724]

They proved that a few years ago. When the Saints lost an NFC final on a highly questionable penalty call they wouldn't be going to the Super Bowl. They were so incensed they quickly organized a mini Mardi Gras on the day of the super bowl. The tv tv ratings took a major nose dive down 50%.

[@stevenbauer4799]

that was the 4-12 aints days. and hard to believe a late season succ/lion game for the division meant something. typical lions lost at home 20-17 to hand succs nfc central title.

[@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup]

It's been known to happen.

[@marcus813]

0:24 Tacoma's not a good example. It and Seattle are in the same DMA. Not the same as, say, Shreveport and New Orleans. Also, my understanding is that the Shreveport/Bossier City DMA leans more toward the Cowboys. Also, despite my Bucs fandom, I strongly believe that KSLA made the wrong decision. The man who made the call clearly didn't know the Shreveport/Bossier City DMA. I know the Saints lost and the NFC Central clash was close, but that doesn't mean that KSLA chose the right game for its audience, which is made up of many Saints fans.

[@djohns808]

I was thinking the same thing. Seattle and Tacoma are 31 miles from each other. The airport there is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I even think some of the "Seattle" TV stations are actually in Tacoma. Maybe something like Duluth, MN and Minneapolis, MN would've been a better comparison.

[@marcus813]

@@djohns808 Duluth and Minneapolis would've definitely been better because they're the centerpieces of their own respective media markets.

[@jourdanjones31]

Tampa Bay Yucks in New Orleans

[@johnkerry6312]

No Cowboys fans in Louisiana!!!!!

[@johnkerry6312]

📍Tacoma, Washington

[@markofly76]

Or if Redding, CA did not show the 49ers game in favor of a Jaguars-Texans matchup.

[@VinnyXwolf]

Whats up with your editing? There are several instances where you step on your own words by have two sentences being spoke at same time.

[@CTubeMan]

The Shreveport station manager acted with Independence.

[@stevenbauer4799]

8:42 sums up archie manning's career. poor arch. and just another shitty qb performance by a lions qb. hipple, danielson. komlo, c. long, old joe f. it didn't matter back then. and once gordon jones from pitt got loose down the sideline it was all over for lions. and weird seeing another #80 for niners.

[@MrPapageorgio10]

I think that's Kevin House beating the Lions deep down the sideline from Williams bomb. And yes the Lions had a long line of mediocre QBs during the late 70s through the 80s

[@stevenbauer4799]

@@MrPapageorgio10 could have been house. i remember jones being a doug williams target and killing lions a few times. and yep those lion qb sucked back then.

[@weegeemike]

I live in Kern County, the most northern part of "Southern" Cali and with my cable package, most of the season my local stations don't air 49er games which passes me off. They show more Raider games even though they're not even in the state anymore...and the Chargers!? I don't wanna see that trash but I get why they show a lot of Rams games I guess.

[@rwboa22]

I would have aired the 49ers-Saints game and if the 49ers went into "garbage time" due to a big lead, then I would have switched to the Lions-Buccaneers game at the 2nd Half.

[@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup]

I believe there were rules that prevented that unless it was a severe blowout situation.

[@ElFuego35]

@@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup There was another issue to prevent that. In the 1981, games in Baltimore (due to local ordinances) and the Central Time Zone, the 1:00 game was actually 2:00 Eastern. Which meant that halftime of 49ers-Saints was at least an hour later, and was the only game in the 1:00 Central slot on CBS.

[@DownriverBusinessEventsGroup]

@@ElFuego35 Understood, however if they get to switch games because of the time difference in The Central and Mountain Time Zones then to me there's a lack of fairness to that seemingly.

[@RetroJR3379]

I know what you mean in 2019 LA got screwed while 98% were watching the 49ers/Saints (oh the irony) KTTV 11 didnt show it so we could see the 4-10 Chargers beat the Jaguars by 64 points

[@developmentalism]

Doug Williams the Tampa QB went to Grambling basically a Shreveport suburb. That may have had something to do with the initial decision factoring despite the guy ignoring the data.

[@jessieread7482]

Grambling is not a suburb of Shreveport. It's it own town almost an hour away from Shreveport.

[@developmentalism]

​@@jessieread7482 i said "basically" . And in the context of TV markets overlap ect... that fits.

[@jessieread7482]

@@developmentalism But I don't think that works either since Grambling would be under the Monroe Market CBS affiliate KNOE like it is today.

[@leogetz3570]

I dont know man, 300 plus miles away and the Saints sucked that year. Definitely a tough call, but I would rather watch a game that meant something

[@stevenbauer4799]

'what exactly is mud in the tires?' leo getz things done.

[@leogetz3570]

@@stevenbauer4799 There you are!!!

[@trueneutral3092]

You clearly don't understand Saints fans and what makes them tick. Sure, there's a lower concentration of them in Shreveport, but they are still there.

[@charleswilliamsjr]

Now the Dallas cowboys and giants aired on Saturday afternoon on KSLA, Including Monroe Louisiana on Knoe TV8 Did the saints and 49Ers or BUCS And Lions in Monroe Louisiana?

[@CTubeMan]

This unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian knows this was the last time there would be a local broadcasting controversy involving a 49ers-Saints game. He will also remind everyone you made a video about how fans in Oklahoma City weren’t able to see the Houston Oilers play in the season finale of 1979. That was more due to the NFL than the local station. You also made a video about the time in 1990 St Louis viewers voted against having their CBS affiliate air a game between the Phoenix Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys in favor of a game between the Vikings and Buccaneers. There was considerably less on the line in that Bucs game than the one in this video.

[@brentvance3958]

Why didn’t the fans get NFL Sunday Ticket? Lol

[@Jared40]

I know right but sadly that wasn't available til 1994🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Metaliconian]

They should've just streamed the game online.

[@Tykoon22]

I know this isn’t the point, and I understand all the other factors involved, but the Saints and Cowboys should be in the same division -- Cowboys and Panthers should switch.

[@Metaliconian]

I wonder if at some point they're just going to do away with divisions similar to that at the NBA and NHL?