Blackout TV History (1970s)
From
tmc1982@gmail.com@21:1/5 to
All on Wed Dec 4 17:41:03 2019
1973 was the first year that the NFL aired games that were sold out 72 hours in advance. This was big news at the time. On Fridays the Associated Press (AP) often printed an NFL press release stating which games were sold out. Newspapers across the
country would pick up this little 2- or 3-paragraph article. In 1973, this happened every week up to the week of the games of Sun. Nov. 25. So if there are any inaccuracies here, they’re most likely in the last 3 weeks.
Any corrections, questions or comments are welcomed and encouraged.
1973 blackouts (70 need 3):
09/16/73 Buf-NE, Bal-Cle, Atl-NO
09/23/73 NYJ-Bal, Mia-Oak, Buf-SD, Atl-LA, KC-NE, Wash-StL, NO-Dal (MNF) 09/30/73 NYG-Cle, NO-Bal, Pit-Hou, StL-Dal, Cin-SD
10/07/73 Bal-NE, Phi-Buf, Cin-Cle, LA-Hou, Chi-NO
10/14/73 Bal-Buf, NYJ-NE, Den-Hou, Phi-StL, Det-NO, Oak-SD, Dal-LA
10/21/73 Bal-Det, Hou-Cle, Atl-SD, GB-LA, NO-SF
10/28,29/73 Oak-Bal, SD-Cle, NYG-StL, Wash-NO, GB-Det, Atl-SF, KC-Buf (MNF) 11/04/73 SF-Det, Buf-NO, Cin-Dal, Den-StL, Hou-Bal, KC-SD
11/11/73 Cle-Hou, NO-LA
11/18/73 StL-NYG, Phi-Dal, NO-SD, SF-LA
11/25/73 Buf-Bal, NE-Hou, LA-NO, Atl-NYJ* (MNF)
12/02/73 Bal-NYJ*, SD-NE, Oak-Hou, Det-StL, Phi-SF
12/8-10/73 KC-Oak (Sat)^, NE-Buf, Chi-Det, Mia-Bal, SF-NO, Den-SD, NYG-LA (MNF)
12/16/73 NE-Bal, Cin-Hou, Dal-StL, Cle-LA
12/23/73 (playoff) LA-Dal
*- Sold out in time for TV blackout to be lifted, but local affiliate chose to air a different game.
^- Sold out in time for TV, but a high school game on same day. Blackout law said that no NFL home game can be televised with a high school game within 100 miles.
1974 blackouts (96):
09/15,16/74 Mia-NE, Wash-NYG, SD-Hou, Phi-StL, Det-Chi, SF-NO, NYJ-KC, Oak-Buf (MNF)
09/22/74 NE-NYG, Hou-Cle, Min-Det, GB-Bal, NO-LA
09/29/74 Cle-StL, KC-Hou, NYG-Dal, Atl-NO, Mia-SD, Cin-SF
10/06/74 Bal-NE, Pit-Hou, Oak-Cle, Den-KC, Min-Dal, Atl-NYG, Phi-SD, StL-SF, Det-LA
10/13/74 NE-NYJ, Cin-Cle, Buf-Bal, Pit-KC, Hou-Min, Oak-SD
10/20/74 Bal-NYJ*, KC-Mia, StL-Hou, Phi-Dal, Cin-Oak, SF-LA
10/27/74 LA-NYJ*, Bal-Mia, Den-Cle, Dal-NYG, Phi-NO, GB-Det, KC-SD, Oak-SF 11/3,4/74 Hou-NYJ*, Atl-Mia, NO-Det, Cin-Bal, StL-Dal, NYG-KC, Cle-SD, LA-SF (MNF)
11/10/74 Mia-NO, NYJ-NYG, Hou-Buf, Den-Bal, SD-KC, SF-Dal, Det-Oak, Atl-LA 11/17/74 NYG-Det, Cin-Hou, LA-NO, SD-Oak
11/24,25/74 Buf-Cle, StL-NYG, Chi-Det, NE-Bal, Min-LA, Atl-SF, Pit-NO (MNF) 11/28;12/1,2/74 Wash-Dal (Thks), Bal-Buf, SF-Cle, Cin-Mia (MNF)
12/7-9/74 Atl-Min (Sat), Cle-Dal (Sat), Phi-NYG, Mia-Bal, Oak-KC, StL-NO, Chi-SD, GB-SF, Wash-LA (MNF)
12/14,15/74 Min-KC (Sat), GB-Atl, NYJ-Bal, Cle-Hou, NYG-StL, Buf-LA, Den-SD, NO-SF
12/22/74 playoff Wash-LA
*- Sold out in time for TV blackout to be lifted, but local affiliate chose to air a different game.
**-Sold out in time for TV blackout to be lifted, but pre-empted by baseball
1975 blackouts (107):
09/21/75 Hou-NE, Bal-Chi, LA-Dal, Atl-StL, Pit-SD, Oak-Mia (MNF).
09/28/75 Mia-NE, Min-Cle, Det-Atl, NYJ-KC, Oak-Bal, Cin-NO, SD-Hou, StL-Dal, Phi-Chi, LA-SF
10/05/75 Den-Buf, NO-Atl, Cin-Hou, SF-KC, NYG-StL, Bal-LA, Oak-SD
10/12/75 Dal-NYG*, Den-Pit**, NE-Cin**, Hou-Cle, Buf-Bal, Phi-Mia, Chi-Det, Oak-KC, GB-NO, LA-SD, Atl-SF
10/19,20/75 Mia-NYJ*, Bal-NE, Phi-StL, GB-Dal, KC-SD, Atl-LA, NO-SF, NYG-Buf (MNF)
10/25,26/75 StL-NYG (Sat)†,Bal-NYJ*, SF-NE, Cin-Atl, Wash-Cle, Det-Hou, Den-KC, NO-LA
11/1,2/75 SD-NYG (Sat)†, NE-StL, Cle-Bal, Mia-Chi, Hou-KC, Atl-NO, Det-SF 11/9,10/75 Bal-Buf, NYJ-Mia, Cle-Det, NE-SD, NO-Oak*, SF-LA, KC-Dal (MNF) 11/16/75 GB-Det, LA-Atl, NYJ-Bal, Min-NO, Den-SD, Chi-SF
11/23/75 Bal-Mia, NE-Buf, StL-NYJ*, Cin-Cle, Den-Atl, Det-KC, SF-NO, Phi-Dal, Chi-LA
11/30;12/1/75 NO-Cle, KC-Bal, NYG-Dal, Atl-Oak*, NE-Mia (MNF)
12/07/75 NYJ-NE, Bal-NYG*, SD-KC, Det-Chi (prob.), LA-NO, Buf-Mia, Hou-SF 12/14,15/75 Buf-NE, KC-Cle, NO-NYG*, SF-Atl, StL-Chi, GB-LA, NYJ-SD (MNF) 12/20,21/75 Min-Buf (Sat), Den-Mia (Sat), SD-Cin, Dal-NYJ, StL-Det, NE-Bal, Cle-Hou, Chi-NO, NYG-SF
12/27/75 playoffs: StL-LA (Sat)
*- Sold out in time for TV blackout to be lifted, but local affiliate chose to air a different game.
**-Sold out in time for TV blackout to be lifted, but pre-empted by baseball. †-Sold out, but stadium availability caused move to Sat. night, and no TV station picked up game.
1976 blackouts (109, missing 1):
09/12,13/76 Bal-NE, NYJ-Cle, Den-Cin, TB-Hou, SD-KC, Phi-Dal, Det-Chi, Min-NO, StL-Sea, LA-Atl, Mia-Buf (MNF)
09/19,20/76 Mia-NE, Hou-Buf, SD-TB, Atl-Det, Cin-Bal, Dal-NO, GB-StL, Chi-SF, Oak-KC (MNF)
09/26/76 NYJ-Mia, Buf-TB, Min-Det, NO-KC, Atl-Chi, Bal-Dal, StL-SD, NYG-LA, SF-Sea
10/03/76 Oak-NE, KC-Buf, Cin-Cle, Phi-Atl, TB-Bal, Hou-NO, NYG-StL, NYJ-SF, LA-Mia
10/10,11/76 NE-Det, Buf-NYJ, Den-Hou, Phi-StL, Atl-NO, SF-LA (MNF)
10/17,18/76 KC-Mia, Bal-Buf, Cle-Atl, Sea-TB, Hou-SD, Chi-LA, NO-SF, NYJ-NE (MNF)
10/23,24/76 Atl-SF (SatN), NE-Buf, Bal-NYJ, Mia-TB, SD-Cle, Den-KC, LA-NO, Det-Sea
10/31-11/1/76 NE-Mia, NYJ-Buf, KC-TB, Phi-NYG*, GB-Det, NO-Atl, SF-StL, Sea-LA, Hou-Bal (MNF)
11/07/76 Mia-NYJ, Pit-KC, Cle-Hou, Bal-SD, Atl-Sea, Wash-SF
11/14/76 TB-NYJ, Phi-Cle, SF-Atl, Det-NO, Den-SD
11/21,22/76 NE-NYJ, SD-Buf, Cin-KC, Cle-TB, Dal-Atl, NO-Sea, Bal-Mia (MNF) 11/25,28,29/76 Buf-Det (Thks), Den-NE, Mia-Cle, NYJ-Bal, Atl-Hou, KC-SD, NO-LA, Min-SF (MNF)
12/4,5/76 Atl-LA (Sat), Buf-Mia, NO-NE, Wash-NYJ, Hou-Cle, SF-SD
12/11,12/76 Min-Mia (Sat), Rams-Det (SatN), Cin-NYJ, NE-TB, GB-Atl, Buf-Bal, Cle-KC, SF-NO
*- Sold out in time for TV blackout to be lifted, but WCBS aired a different game.
1977 blackouts (109, 1 missing):
09/18/77 Mia-Buf, KC-NE, TB-Phi, LA-Atl, GB-NO, NYJ-Hou, Bal-Sea
09/24-26/77 Min-TB (Sat.), Bal-NYJ, Sea-Cin, SD-KC, NYG-Dal, NO-Det, Mia-SF, Phi-LA, NE-Cle (MNF)
10/2,3/77 NE-NYJ, Phi-Det, NYG-Atl, Buf-Bal, TB-Dal, Hou-Mia, Cin-SD, Den-Sea, SF-LA, Oak-KC (MNF)
10/09/77 Sea-NE, NYJ-Buf, Oak-Cle, Mia-Bal, SD-NO, Wash-TB, Atl-SF
10/16/77 Bal-KC, Atl-Buf, StL-Phi, GB-Det, Cle-Hou, NYJ-Mia, NE-SD, TB-Sea, NO-LA
10/23/77 Sea-Mia, Oak-NYJ, Cle-Buf, Den-Cin, GB-TB, Atl-Chi, KC-SD, Det-SF 10/30/77 SD-Mia, NYJ-NE, Hou-Cin, KC-Cle, LA-NO, TB-SF
11/06/77 Mia-NYJ, Cin-Cle, SD-Det, NO-Phi, SF-Atl, Chi-Hou, GB-KC, TB-LA 11/13/77 NE-Mia, Bal-Buf, Sea-NYJ, NYG-TB, Det-Atl, SF-NO, Den-SD
11/20/77 NE-Buf, Cle-NYG*, TB-Det, NYJ-Bal, Den-KC, Atl-NO, Hou-Sea, Oak-SD 11/24,27/77 Chi-Det (Thks), Pit-NYJ, Phi-NE, LA-Cle, NYG-Cin, Atl-TB, KC-Hou, SD-Sea, NO-SF
12/04/77 NE-Atl, Wash-Buf, Chi-TB, Cin-KC, NYJ-NO, Cle-SD
12/11,12/77 Buf-NYJ, Hou-Cle, NYG-Phi, Det-Bal, Sea-KC, TB-NO, Atl-LA, Dal-SF (MNF)
12/17,18/77 Buf-Mia (Sat), NYJ-Phi, StL-TB, NO-Atl, Cin-Hou, Pit-SD, Cle-Sea 12/24,26/77 Playoff: Oak-Bal (Sat), Min-LA (Mon)
*- Sold out in time for TV blackout to be lifted, but WNBC had to televise the Jets road game at Baltimore.
1978 blackouts (106 need 8):
9/2,3/78 NYG-TB (Sat.), Mia-NYJ, Pit-Buf, Wash-NE, SF-Cle, KC-Cin, LA-Phi, GB-Det, Min-NO, SD-Sea
9/9,10/78 Det-TB (Sat.), NYJ-Buf, Cin-Cle, NE-StL, Mia-Bal, Hou-KC, Chi-SF, Atl-LA
09/17,18/78 Buf-Mia, Sea-NYJ, Cle-Atl, Chi-Det, Phi-NO, Wash-StL, Bal-NE (MNF) 09/24/78 Bal-Buf, NO-Cin, Atl-TB, Den-KC, Det-Sea, GB-SD
10/01/78 StL-Mia, KC-Buf, Pit-NYJ, Hou-Cle, Phi-Bal, LA-NO, Cin-SF
10/8,9/78 Buf-NYJ, Wash-Det, Cle-NO, TB-KC, SF-LA, Cin-Mia (MNF)
10/15/78 NE-Cin (prob.), Wash-Phi, Buf-Hou, NYJ-Bal, Mia-SD, NO-SF
10/22/78 Cin-Buf, StL-NYJ, SD-Det, Chi-TB, Den-Bal, Cle-KC, NO-LA, Atl-SF 10/29/78 Buf-Cle, Hou-Cin (prob.), StL-Phi, NYG-NO, Bal-Mia
11/05/78 NE-Buf, Cle-Hou, NYG-StL, Oak-KC, Cin-SD, TB-LA
11/12,13/78 Mia-Buf, Den-Cle, TB-Det, Atl-NO, KC-SD, StL-SF, Oak-Cin (MNF) 11/19/78 Buf-TB, Cle-Bal, Sea-KC, LA-SF
11/23, 26,27/78 Den-Det (Thks), NYJ-Mia, NYG-Buf, LA-Cle, NE-Bal, SD-KC, Phi-StL, Pit-SF (MNF)
12/03/78 Bal-NYJ, Buf-KC, Atl-Cin, Det-StL, SF-NO
12/10,11/78 Oak-Mia, NYJ-Cle, Hou-NO, TB-SF, Cin-LA (MNF)
12/17,18/78 Dal-NYJ*, Cle-Cin, SF-Det, NO-TB, Buf-Bal, Atl-StL, GB-LA, NYJ-Mia (MNF)
12/24/78 Hou-Mia (playoff)
12/31/78 LA-Min (playoff)
1979 blackouts (90 1 too many):
09/1,2/79 Det-TB (Sat), Mia-Buf, NYG-Phi, Bal-KC, SF-Min, Oak-LA
09/09/79 Sea-Mia, Cin-Buf, Wash-Det, TB-Bal, Cle-KC, Dal-SF
09/16/79 NE-Cin, Det-NYJ, Bal-Cle, Phi-NO, Buf-SD, SF-LA
09/23/79 NYJ-Buf, Chi-Mia, Hou-Cin, Atl-Det, Oak-KC, NO-SF
09/30/79 Mia-NYJ*, Min-Det, Buf-Bal, NYG-NO, SF-SD, StL-LA
10/07/79 Det-NE, Chi-Buf, KC-Cin, StL-Hou, NYJ-Bal, LA-NO, Sea-SF
10/14/79 Buf-Mia, Wash-Cle, Pit-Cin, Hou-Bal, NYG-KC
10/21/79 Bal-Buf, Cin-Cle, Phi-StL, Det-NO, SD-LA, Atl-SF
10/28/79 Buf-Det, GB-Mia, Phi-Cin, NE-Bal, NYG-LA, Chi-SF
11/4,5/79 NE-Buf, Cin-Bal, SD-KC, Min-StL, Hou-Mia (MNF)
11/11/79 Bal-Mia, Sea-Cle, SD-Cin, TB-Det, SF-NO
11/18,19/79 Mia-Cle, GB-Buf, Den-SF, NYG-TB, Atl-LA (MNF)
11/22,25/79 Chi-Det (Thu), StL-Cin, Mia-Bal, LA-SF
12/02/79 Den-Buf, Hou-Cle, Sea-KC, SF-StL, Bal-NYJ*, Min-LA
12/09/79 Mia-Det, NYG-StL, KC-Bal, SD-NO, TB-SF
12/15,16/79 NYJ-Mia (Sat), GB-Det (Sat), Min-NE, Cle-Cin, KC-TB, NO-LA
*- Sold out in time for TV blackout to be lifted, but WNBC New York aired a different game.
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