The CRAZY NBC BROADCASTING DRAMA of the 1982 NFL Season

During week 7 (week 15) of the 1982 NFL season, the NBC affiliate of Lancaster, Pennsylvania should have shown the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Houston Oilers, since NFL rules mandated that any non-blacked out game within a 75-mile radius must be televised in that market. However, in a bit of defiance, NBC decided to air a completely different game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns instead. This is the story behind the controversy, and what led to this defiant decision
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[@82dorrin]

12:48 The moment you were all waiting for.

[@alexandriaocasio-smollett5078]

This is a great channel. Legitimately underrated in terms of its research, subject creativity, and content. I’ve enjoyed it for a long time. However... They really earned their stripes in this video by being one of the only channels to pronounce “Lancaster”(PA) correctly. As a Chester County native who allows stupid petty shit(like people who mispronounce “Lancaster”) to bother me way too much, I was thoroughly impressed and grateful that FINALLY someone put in the effort to pronounce that name correctly. Subscribed.

[@richardcompton1020]

There is nothing unusual about what happened here. "Secondary" markets such as Lancaster are NOT required to air the home team's home games, sellout or no sellout; only away games are required. It is not uncommon for the network to assign a secondary market affiliate a different game, especially toward the end of the season, than the home team's game if they have had a bad season and are playing at home.

[@mdf3530]

Dean Wormer: "Mister Bradshaw. Zero. Point. Zero."

[@byrd56]

And then, there were two instances in 1975 of regular season NFL games not being televised at all. Probably would have been the last known instances of such not happening. One was on Oct 12, when NBC showed game 2 of the '75 World Series (Reds at Red Sox), which bumped all the 1 pm AFC games over to local stations, except for one game, Patriots at Bengals, that wasn't picked up for obvious reasons. The other, on Nov 1, when a Giants home game against the Chargers (back when it shared Shea Stadium with the Jets) was bumped to Saturday, and no one was interested in showing it.

[@jscrashad]

I remember as a kid and the Patriots were a crap show the NBC station here in Springfield MA used to let the viewers vote, via phone what game they wanted to see that weekend. I always wondered how they were allowed to do that but turns out Foxboro is 80 miles from the station.

[@anthony0358]

We had to live with this in New York. We only got the Jets and Giants each week . Unless both team were on the road or one of them played on another day , we never got another game

[@JedForge]

Here in Utah we're considered to be in Broncos' territory despite so much of the state's population being transplants from other states (me being from Texas). You're as likely to see a Steelers or Cowboys sticker on a car as the Niners, Cards and Seahawks. Broncos are there, of course, but I'm not sure I'd call them the dominant fanbase here lol.

[@Musicradio77Network]

WCBS-TV (channel 2) ran the New York Giants game during week 15 of the NFL, not WNBC-TV (channel 4). They ran the other two football games , but I don’t know if channel 4 never has to happen if they don’t break the rules. New York City was the largest TV market in the country to carried NFL games during the 1982 season when it was on the big three networks, that includes WNBC-TV which is channel 4.

[@mftepera]

Idea for a future episode: About 20 years ago the Steelers radio affiliate was fined by the NFL for using technology to delay its live broadcast of the Steelers so it could squeeze in more commercials. Would love to see a deep dive into that.

[@OfficialJaguarGator9]

Had that one on my bucket list for a while. Definitely gonna cover that at some point

[@teen_laqueefa]

Seems like a Pittsburgh thing to do. It is a beautiful city, and love the coordination of the pro teams color schemes.

[@teen_laqueefa]

@UCTlO3MgUhv0pZ0pSb2Vzhrw I can't stand the Football team, yet the city has a "Gotham city" aesthetic..

[@northstarpokeshipper2148]

@@teen_laqueefa Hienz Field served as the Gotham City football stadium in the Dark Knight Rises

[@blacksheep25251]

@@OfficialJaguarGator9 I'm SO THERE!!! Your research team (you?) are phenomenal

[@rjmacc]

There was another broadcast controversy in Harrisburg during the late 1990s with the Steelers/Ravens, but this time it was the CBS affiliate, WHP-TV. When the Colts left in 1984, Harrisburg became a Steelers market, but the NFL wanted the city to be a Ravens market when they arrived in Baltimore. After two decades of airing the Steelers, WHP-TV switched to the Ravens broadcasts. WHP-TV received 1000s of calls of complaints to their newsroom nearly every Sunday at 1pm. It got so bad they hooked up a separate answering machine with a recorded message essentially saying it was the NFL's decision to air the Ravens.

[@cpcva724]

I checked on Google Maps that the distance between Harrisburg and Baltimore is 79 miles and the distance between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh is 204 miles Technically Harrisburg is technically by the skin of its teeth not a market of Baltimore

[@patrickracer43]

The Lancaster, PA NBC affiliate: "okay, good, the Eagles and Oilers suck, we can air the Steelers and Browns" The NFL: "lol syke"

[@mrmoose6619]

0:29 is EXACTLY the problem... especially when both the Giants and Jets stink, which seems to be more often than not.

[@Rockhound6165]

The Eagles/Cardinals game shown, I was there for that one. Took my then girlfriend to her first football game. And not for nothing, the Eagles/Oilers game turned out to be a much better game than the Stealers/Browns.

[@Bruce12867]

I read somewhere that in 1980, WNBC showed the Steelers-Browns game over the Broncos-Giants game, despite the fact the Giants game was sold out, and WNBC was permitted to air the game locally. So this isn't the first time the local team was pulled in favor of Steelers-Browns.

[@Musicradio77Network]

That would be a subject for another “JaguarGator9” video.

[@ronpeacock9939]

I had heard rumors that the reason this was "allowed" to happen was that... the NFL WRITTEN rules said no-sellout... no televised... so just because the NFL lifted the blackout rules... if they tried to take things to court... the contract sitting on NBC's desk said that it had to be blacked out... meaning in court... the legal eagles didn't think that victory was assured... later contracts fixed that loophole... Whether that's true or not.. I have no idea... I know only a few years later we (Buffalo) didn't want to see our team play... they had back to back 2-14 seasons (which got us Bruce Smith and Jim Kelley in the drafts)...

[@CTubeMan]

You have the perfect name to comment on NBC.

[@ronpeacock9939]

@@CTubeMan I know don't I? Sadly, no relations to anyone in power there... though I will admit.. back then, I HATED the NFL blackout rules... Buffalo's Rich Stadium (now called Highmark Stadium) holds 82K+ fans.. one of the biggest back then and probably top 2-3 today (so many have gotten smaller with more luxury seats).. so sellouts even when the team was winning was rare... The NFL rules were not like in our town...

[@MrDunloMusic]

Makes a lot of sense. The station implemented the “rules are made to be broken” mentality in response to the NFL breaking their own blackout rule.

[@thomasnavarro7372]

Lancaster is a secondary market to the Eagles and any team in Baltimore. Rules is secondary markets do NOT have to air the home games. Only Road games are mandatory. Erie misses the Bills at home if Browns and Steelers are available. Orlando does not mind missing sold out Jaguar home games. Lancaster was following the rules. It's same weekend blackout was lifted so Rams-Raiders can be shown in L.A. even though it was not a sellout.

[@TheGlassCoke2001]

Idea for a future video: so apparently, there were two different coverages for Super Bowl XXXV by CBS. One was a regular SD broadcast done with Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms, and another was an HDTV broadcast with Kevin Harlan and Daryl Johnston. This wasn't the first time a Super Bowl would be covered in HD (the previous Super Bowl, SB XXXIV, was the first with ABC), but this had 1080i format compared to ABC's 720i format. EyeVision also made its debut that game. It helped uphold a challenge on a Jamal Lewis TD run in the 4th quarter. It was also used in the halftime show that year, which was directed by Saturday Night Live director Beth McCarthy-Miller. EyeVision wasn't used after that game until it was announced for Super Bowl 50.

[@paulanderson6634]

Holy Cow those were some bad field conditions in Cleveland!

[@mikebutz2611]

In those years the NBC affiliate then KYW only got 2 Eagles games. They got cute to get them on.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

Love watching these kinds of videos. Keep up the great work JaguarGator 9

[@jerseyfla]

The Harrisburg-Lancaster market has always been a big Steelers territory. Technically it is a designated market for the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles due to city proximity. Whenever the Ravens play on the road, the CBS affiliate WHP must show the Ravens, but when they the Ravens are at home WHP has permission to pass on the Ravens game for a Steelers game. The Fox affiliate WPMT can do the same but they always choose Eagles due to their NFC ties. If you read WHP’s Facebook page they always have to post an NFL rules disclaimer about how they are legally obligated to show the Ravens road game over any Steelers game.

[@marcdaley]

Isn't Lancaster Amish territory? Why would they care about what's on TV? 😜

[@daveporter0217]

The TV signals also reach more "English" people in the area, as well as York and Harrisburg.

[@emmanuelgarcia5841]

Lol there's non Amish people here too. And plenty of us 😂

[@teen_laqueefa]

@@daveporter0217 Pennsylvania is a unique state. I'm from Southern Ohio and we have a beautiful state here, but PA seems to be a hidden gem for scenic beauty and rich history

[@kyle1910]

In the HOU-PHI game Wilbert Montgomery had a 90+ yard TD run and Archie Manning/Mike Renfro were involved in a wild play that's been a part of blooper reels ever since. Manning had a shotgun snap sail way over his head. He ran around evading defenders then passed the ball like a pitcher does in fast-pitch softball that was caught by Renfro. Renfro ended up making the play an 8-yard gain.

[@nasetvideos]

Fantastic video--Great context and story-telling along with video footage. Really well done

[@geebee6010]

Once you go past Lancaster, you’re really not in the Philadelphia market: despite the “miles” .

[@VikDeth502]

I live in the Harrisburg area now and grew up in the York, PA area. Those parts of Central PA are a strange mixture of Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and even some Washington fans (though the Washington fans are the minority). There are a good mix of all of the "big 3 (Steelers, Ravens & Eagles)".

[@geebee6010]

@@VikDeth502 I know it’s very interesting

[@jamespointer7792]

Love the video I never knew this happened

[@josephD32]

"Instead of 'Fly, Eagles, Fly!', it was more like, 'Die, Iggles, Die!'"

[@chrisp679]

Ah, the Bingo Long debacle. I remember it as if it was just yesterday… Or was it?

[@videonut1988]

Now WGAL (now the semi-sister station to WCAU in Philly) is doing this mess…

[@CTubeMan]

You mentioned how the week before this game the Eagles lost to the Giants. This unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian will remind everyone you made a video about that game and Floyd Eddings’s debut performance in that game. This uOJG9h will also remind everyone you made another video about how the NFL misled both the Steelers and Eagles about their playoff chances the next week.

[@mikepainter3111]

Where do you get all these stories from

[@appleiphone69]

Great story. I never knew this occurred. I guess NFL breaking the blackout rule took away any leg to stand on.

[@Rockhound6165]

You need to do one on NBC doing a game(Dolphins/Jets) with no announcers and not the nothing, I would pay extra to watch a game without that inane babbling of the announce teams.

[@brianarbenz1329]

I remember that. It was such a novelty that everyone tuned in. But the networks figured that once the novelty was off, they'd want their Summeral, their Madden and their Charlie Jones back.

[@rjflesher]

12:48. You're welcome.

[@lsmftymf]

Distances between Lancaster, PA and... Pittsburgh = 239 miles. Philadelphia = 78 miles. Baltimore = 77 miles! Lancaster should be airing Ravens and Eagles games. Steelers shouldn't be part of this equation...unless Ravens matches are allowed to be shown in Erie, PA on a regular basis.

[@StefDjordjevic33]

But WGAL’s coverage area goes as far west as Fulton County.

[@rjmacc]

See my comment above about the late 1990s Steelers/Ravens controversy. It kind of explains why the Steelers are shown in that hyphenated market. However, you can't argue with the math; it is true: all those other cities are closer to Harrisburg, not Pittsburgh.

[@benjaminrealy5661]

One point not explained in this video that probably factored into the affiliate not being punished. They usually show pittsburgh games because Philadelphia is usually on the CBS affiliate. It's only because the oilers were in town that NBC got the rights. I'd be curious to find out how many Eagles games that NBC affiliate even aired that decade. Given how many cross conference home games the eagles played that actually sold out. I'd think the NBC affiliate averaged more Steeler games in a season than all the Eagle games they aired that entire decade.

[@jab1289]

They may have wanted them to air the Eagles because the NFL was trying to favor them in the late-70's and early-80's (see two videos on Jaguar's channel: One about 79 Steelers-Eagles, and another about the controversial end to the Oct. 1980 Cowboys@Eagles game).

[@VikDeth502]

You always get to see your local team... unless you live in a market that is within legal broadcast range of 4 teams. Like central Pennsylvania. Close enough to routinely get games (and conflict schedule-wise) from the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Broadcast rules usually, at least once or twice per season, cause an Eagles game to get blacked out because they are playing an AFC team on the road or something like that. BS.

[@ajk]

Or......pre no blackouts era, your team failed to sell out within 72 hours of kickoff.

[@KevinT7274]

I think WGAL was breaking the rules from the 70's until NBC no longer had the contract for the AFC in the late 90's. Other than when the Eagles were hosting an AFC team, I remember they would always air the Steelers games when it was on NBC that Sunday. The Colts(before the midnight move to Indy) were ignored other than when they played the Steelers and same for the first couple seasons of the Ravens in Baltimore. That Harrisburg-York-Lancaster market, while geographically closer to Baltimore and Philly has always been Steelers territory, so I don't have a problem with what WGAL did for many years. The NFL allowed it, and that was the correct decision.

[@mrg8581]

Back when NFL games were played on real grass and mud instead of field turf. 1:48

[@diamonddog13]

Broadcast-related videos are the best JG9 videos.

[@drewzuhosky6826]

0:13 Not if you're a Browns or Steelers fan in Youngstown, Ohio.

[@teen_laqueefa]

Who does Youngstown root for? Bengals fans have been coming aboard from SE Ohio since JB9 Is from ATHENS

[@okolo22000]

2:32 Interesting; I never imagined that you would’ve forgotten your famous catch phrase so easily. 12:41 Ah, there it is.

[@altfactor]

Ratings for the Philadelphia/Houston game in Philadelphia were lower than if NBC had spiked a Nielsen ratings book during every commercial break.

[@lauradaly8020]

Very interesting.

[@iamsithazagoth3728]

I think the NFL was in breach of contract by lifting the blackout for no agreed upon reason, so they couldn't do anything.

[@altfactor]

I thought that the team management could lift TV blackouts if they wanted to. I believe that in the early 1980's, a Monday night New England home game against Dallas was shown locally in Boston but didn't sell out. I believe town officials in Foxboro, Massachusetts only allowed that Monday night game if there were no blackout. The reason was that a few years earlier, violence broke out in the stands and parking lot of the old Foxboro Stadium, with a couple of fatalities. So town officials in Foxboro said "We'll allow the game only if you lift the blackout so fans would have the option of watching the game at home".

[@stevenbauer4799]

Tose lost that gamble then gambled away his fortune. Dude tried to move eagles to phx. before bidwell did.

[@JedForge]

I'm a "Rules are Rules" type, but I agree that you need to have SOME flexibility for when a situation you may not have foreseen comes up. Based upon what was known before the game, I think the affiliate did the right thing. Though I think I understand why the blackout was lifted, I believe it was a mistake to do so (again, thinking in terms of what was known in advance). Based upon what actually happened that day ... that's hindsight 20/20 area.

[@diamonddog13]

"Rules are Rules" flew out the window when the NFL broke their own blackout rule.

[@dgendvil]

What about the Colts as well?

[@behrwillsonn3181]

TO THE CREATOR: I dig your show, and I love football. But please let me give you a tip. Your voice could be better. You are speaking in what they call 'head voice'. If you spoke from your diaphragm your voice would sound much better. It wouldn't be pitchy or airy. If you web search 'head voice' and 'speaking from your diaphragm' you will find plenty of exercises to help your wonderful channel.

[@stevenbauer4799]

How do the amish watch nfl games in pa. lancaster area? 'I look at my wife and realize she's ready for game. Been trying to watch some nfl livin' in an amish paradise...'

[@teen_laqueefa]

😆😅🤣😂😁🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@stevenbauer4799]

Wouldn't bother me if #kn lions were blacked out every week. And demoted to a lesser league until they put a winner out there.

[@teen_laqueefa]

This year I was worried that the Bengals might end up like Detroit, but honestly I can't help but root for Detroit in the NFC NORTH, HATE DA BEARS, and GB and the Vikes are decent organizations, that go out to contend....now that we tasted winning, I hope Lions fans can experience the feeling, I'm with y'all from Cincinnati I wish you and Coach Campbell success

[@stevenbauer4799]

@@teen_laqueefa I wouldn't count on it but if m brown can hoist an afc trophy maybe a #kn ford can too-some day.

[@teen_laqueefa]

@@stevenbauer4799 I would love to see it. The Lions started their history in Portsmouth, Ohio So I have a spot for them in my football heart

[@stevenbauer4799]

@@teen_laqueefa Not optimistic but me too.

[@teen_laqueefa]

@@stevenbauer4799 I'm trying to make friends all over the NFL, I am just a Bengals and Lions guy and hopefully you can be surprised by the success next year

[@arizonawrestlinginterviews1040]

FLY EAGLES FLY!!!

[@kibitznec700]

Cut that 39.6 crap once and for all. It already bores.