16. The rise of the NFL and AFL began to eat into World Series audiences
In 1960 the American Football League (today’s American Football Conference) began play in eight cities, competing for fans and players with the National Football League. The AFL suffered from poor attendance for some franchises and low television ratings, but it was bolstered by a large television rights package with ABC Sports. Starting in 1965, an even more lucrative television contract with NBC allowed AFL teams to compete on a level field with NFL in pursuing players. Both leagues played their games on Sunday afternoons. Saturday afternoons were dominated by college football, which also developed several television contracts with both national and regional coverage. The World Series found tough competition for viewers during weekend games of the World Series. Yet baseball refused to change its policies and allow night games for the fall classic. By then, the majority of regular-season games were played at night.
In 1966 the NFL and AFL agreed to a merger, to take place in 1970. They also agreed to a championship game, following the end of the 1966 season. The Championship game became known as the Super Bowl for its third rendition in January 1969. By then, the slate of football games offered during the same period when World Series games were played presented stiff competition. Television ratings for the weekend games suffered, though weekday games still performed well. American television was still dominated by just three national networks, NBC, ABC, and CBS. All broadcast football, either college, professional, or both. Just one, NBC, offered national baseball coverage, and that for just one game per week. By 1970, the World Series was losing its place as America’s top sports draw. Baseball relented the following year and created night World Series games.