Infamous "Heidi Game" that changed sports TV turns 50

Newsday

The New York Jets were leading the Oakland Raiders 32-29 with about a minute to play on Nov. 17, 1968 when NBC opted to switch to that night's prescheduled airing of the movie Heidi at 7 p.m. ET because the game ran over its three-hour timeslot. That left many fans in the New York furious, especially since the Raiders scored two touchdowns, winning the game 43-32. The game was played in the waning American Football League, which would merge with the NFL in 1970. The Heidi Game led to future NFL contracts requiring networks to show games to their completion in the road team's market. Other professional sports also added similar language. ALSO: ABC's Chicago affiliate spent the Heidi Bowl anniversary not showing ABC's Saturday Night Football game.