After CBS lost the American television rights of the National Hockey League to NBC following the 1971-72 season (CBS was paying less than $2 million a year and NBC jumped to $5.3 million), the network covered the inaugural season of the World Hockey Association. The WHA's TV deal permitted it to sell week‐night games to other networks (CBS meanwhile, would show games on Sunday afternoons in addition the all-star game and playoffs.)
On January 7, 1973, CBS aired its first WHA game between the Minnesota Fighting Saints and Winnipeg Jets live from the new St. Paul Civic Center with Ron Oakes, Gerry Cheevers and Dick Stockton announcing. Don Chevrier would also provide play-by-play for CBS. come the 1973 playoffs. CBS' contract
Local broadcasters
Team Radio station Radio announcers Television station Television announcersBaltimore BladesWBAL-FM WBAL (AM)Howard MashBirmingham BullsWAPIEli GoldWAPI-TVGary Sanders and Tom RobertsCalgary CowboysCFACEric Bishop CFACEd Whalen, Terry Jones and Wes Montgomery Chicago CougarsWJJD-FM WTAQ WWMM-FM WVFV-FMDuane Dow Howard Balson, Bud KellyWSNSBrad Palmer (1972–73), Red Rush (1973–75), and Bobby HullCincinnati StingersWKRC WLWAndy MacWilliams WLWTWXIXBill Brown Phil Samp and Jerry Rafter Andy MacWilliamsCleveland Crusaders WWWESteve Albert (1972-75) and Lee Hamilton (1975-76)WUABFrank Sweeney and Ted PattersonDenver SpursKOA (AM)Bob MartinEdmonton OilersCJCA CFRN (AM)Bryan Hall and Rod PhillipsCITV/ITV CFRNWes Montgomery, Terry Jones and Ed WhalenAl McCann and Bruce MacGregorHouston AerosKLYX-FM KTRHJerry TrupianoKRVL KHTV KPRC-TVJerry Trupiano and Jack StanfieldIndianapolis RacersWIBC WART-FM WNON-FMBob LameyWTTVJohn Totten and Ron BuchananLos Angeles SharksKUTE-FMKGBS-FMGary Morrell and Bud TuckerMichigan StagsWWJGary Morrell and Norm PlummerWXONVince Doyle and Marty PavelichMinnesota Fighting SaintsWLOLFrank Buetel, Roger Buxton, Bill Allard, and Bob HalvorsonWTCNFrank Buetel and Roger BuxtonNew England WhalersWHDHWTIC Dave Martin, John Moynihan, Bill Rasmussen, Ron Ryan, Bob Neumeier, Dennis Randall, and John HewigWKBGteam was located in Boston at the timeWFSBConnecticut Public Television John Carlson, Tim Horgan, Stan Fischler, Shirley Fischler, Bob Neumeier, Bill Rasmussen, Dennis Randall, and John HewigNew York Raiders/Golden BladesWMCAWRVRJohn Sterling and Fritz Peterson(both Raiders/WMCA) Barry Landers and Garry Peters (both Golden Blades/WRVR)Sterling Manhattan Cable (predecessor to MSG Network)Ottawa NationalsCKOY CJRC(French)Professor Jack Daly and Hugh Riopelle Rene Lecavalier(French commentary)Philadelphia BlazersWRCP-FMWHYY-TV WPHL-TV(One playoff match)Bob MacLean and Dan BakerPhoenix RoadrunnersKTAR (AM) KXTC KRUXAl McCoyKPHOQuebec NordiquesCJRP CKCV (French only) Claude Bédard, Jean Pouliot, Alain Côte, and Guy Lemieux, Paddy Pedneault, Marc Simoneau and Michel Villeneuve CFCM(French only) Jacques Moreau, Claude Bédard and Guy Lemieux San Diego MarinersKOGORoy Storey Toronto TorosCFRBWilliam StephensonCKGN(Global TV)Joe Spence, Peter Gzowski, Andy Bathgate, Jim Coleman and Brian MacFarlaneVancouver BlazersCJJCRon Oakes Gary RableWinnipeg JetsCJOBKen Nicholson and Don WittmanCKND-TVDon Wittman
Notes Chicago Bulls basketball began airing on channel 44 in 1973; WSNS-TV broadcast the Bulls' full 41-game road schedule, making the Bulls the only NBA team at the time with every road game broadcast on television. That same year, channel 44 began airing World Hockey Association hockey with the Chicago Cougars. The Cougars and Bulls were called by Lorn Brown. In 1974, Bill Rasmussen moved south to Hartford, Connecticut, to join the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association as their communications director. At the conclusion of the 1977–78 season, Rasmussen was fired by the Whalers. Thus began the pursuit of ESPN, incorporating the fledgling network on July 14, 1978. Bob Neumeier's first job in broadcasting began in 1975 on WTIC in Hartford, Connecticut, where he called play-by-play of the Whalers, working with Bill Rasmussen and Larry Pleau; among their calls was the famous "Brawl at the Mall" in April 1975 during a playoff series with the Minnesota Fighting Saints.April 11, 1975 Whalers-Fighting Saints brawl from YouTube
See also List of Edmonton Oilers broadcasters List of Hartford Whalers broadcasters Quebec Nordiques#Broadcasters List of Winnipeg Jets broadcasters
References