On Thanksgiving Day in 1934, radio started a new tradition that continues today – playing football on Thanksgiving. Radio executive George Richards, who owned the Lions, found that the sports pages of the local media were dedicated to baseball. So, he worked with NBC Radio to air the first broadcast of a professional football game between the Chicago Bears and Detriot Lions across the nation, commencing the new American tradition of football on Thanksgiving.
History.com: First Football broadcast
November 2, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the first commercial radio broadcast. To celebrate this special anniversary, we’re shining a spotlight on 100 key moments in radio's history.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating your favorite radio memories throughout 2020. Use the hashtag #Radio100 across social media to share these moments with the world. Here’s to 100 wonderful years of radio, and to at least 100 more!
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