Television and Entertainment
The game was broadcast in the United States by NBC Sports - at the time, still a "Service of NBC News" - with Curt Gowdy handling the play-by-play duties and joined by color commentators Al DeRogatis and Kyle Rote in the broadcast booth. Also helping with NBC's coverage were Jim Simpson (reporting from the sidelines) and Pat Summerall (helping conduct player interviews for the pregame show, along with Rote). In an interview later done with NFL Films, Gowdy called it the most memorable game he ever called because of its historical significance.
While the Orange Bowl was sold out for the game, the live telecast was not shown in Miami due to both leagues' unconditional blackout rules at the time.
For the first time, famous celebrities appeared for the Super Bowl ceremonies. Entertainer Bob Hope led a pregame ceremony honoring the astronauts of Project Apollo and the Apollo 8 mission, the first manned flight around the Moon, which had returned to Earth just 18 days prior to the game. The crew of Apollo 8 then recited the Pledge of Allegiance before singer Anita Bryant performing the National Anthem. The Florida A&M University band was featured during the "America Thanks" halftime show.
This game is thought to be the earliest surviving Super Bowl game preserved on videotape in its entirety save for a portion of the Colts' fourth quarter scoring drive. The original NBC broadcast was aired as part of the NFL Network Super Bowl Classics series.
Read more about this topic: Super Bowl III
Famous quotes containing the word television:
“Laughter on American television has taken the place of the chorus in Greek tragedy.... In other countries, the business of laughing is left to the viewers. Here, their laughter is put on the screen, integrated into the show. It is the screen that is laughing and having a good time. You are simply left alone with your consternation.”
—Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929)