Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2017 August 2

= August 2 =

First American network to show women's tennis?
I know it was in 1972, know Nancy Jeffett promoted it and know it was in Dallas, but the broadcaster is strangely elusive. Not mentioned in several recent Jeffett obits I've tried, or a few contemporary (digital) newspapers. Anybody have an old TV Guide laying around with something about a Maureen Connolly Brinker Memorial Tournament in it? InedibleHulk (talk) 04:54, 2 August 2017 (UTC)
 * It may be earlier than that. The 1968 US Open (tennis) was shown on the CBS network, though I don't know if they just showed Men's matches, or showed both genders.  Tennis on CBS has some background, but that may help you find coverage of the event.  -- Jayron 32 12:31, 2 August 2017 (UTC)
 * It is not Googleable. In 1972, the number of networks was very small. So, Googling for resources with "ABC" and "1972" and "Connolly Brinker Memorial Tournament" turns up nothing useful. Trying NBC and CBS turns up nothing either. 209.149.113.5 (talk) 12:34, 2 August 2017 (UTC)
 * NBC broadcast the 1969 Wimbledon women's final on tape delay. Newspaper clipping here: http://www.nbcsports.com/our-history. Folks over at http://www.the506.com (sports broadcasting discussion forum, behind registration wall) report that the history of grand slams on network TV goes back to NBC broadcasting the 1954 U.S. Nationals (as they were called at the time), but it's probably difficult to find out if any women's play was shown. Xenon54 (talk) 12:41, 2 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Where Xenon says "newspaper clipping here", there is a little box that says NBC began covering Wimbledon in 1969 but does not say which events, and a newspaper clipping from 1979 about the first time they did live coverage of the men's final. --69.159.60.147 (talk) 22:14, 2 August 2017 (UTC)


 * There's a subtle yet enormous difference between live and taped sports (and between men's and women's tennis), but this is all helpful in seeing the big picture. Thanks. InedibleHulk (talk) 22:07, 3 August 2017 (UTC)