14. Videotapes of the first Super Bowl were erased
As noted, the first Super Bowl was broadcast simultaneously by NBC (AFL) and CBS (NFL). CBS used broadcasters Ray Scott for first half play-by-play, Jack Whitaker for the second half, and Frank Gifford for “color commentary”. NBC countered with Curt Gowdy and Paul Christman. NBC claimed they had a contractual right to cover the game, since they covered AFL games throughout the season. CBS claimed they had the right to cover the game, since it was being played in an NFL city and venue (Los Angeles Coliseum). Tensions between the technical staff of both networks increased throughout the week, causing Pete Rozelle to intervene. Rozelle dictated that NBC could use their own announcers, but the game feed which went out over the network came from CBS.
The first Super Bowl did not receive overwhelming support from local fans. Ticket prices were considered high ($12, equivalent to about $90 today) and more than a third of the Coliseum seats went unsold. The broadcast was blacked out in the Los Angeles market. Following the game, the only Super Bowl broadcast by two networks simultaneously, both networks erased the tapes, a common cost-saving practice of the time. NFL Films recorded most of the game on film, and an audio broadcast by NBC Radio survived. Snippets of the NFL Films recording, along with short sections from multiple video sources, allowed for the game to be reconstructed on film, using the NBC radio broadcast for audio. The NFL Network displayed the resulting film on the game’s 49th anniversary in 2016.