▁to ▁the ▁more ▁established ▁National ▁Football ▁League ) ▁American ▁Football ▁League ▁on ▁the ▁American ▁Broadcast ing ▁Company ▁( ABC ). ▁ ▁ABC ▁broadcast ▁A FL ▁games ▁from ▁the ▁league ' s ▁very ▁first ▁season ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 0 ▁until ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁season , ▁when ▁N BC ▁took ▁over ▁as ▁the ▁league ' s ▁primary ▁network ▁television ▁broad c aster . ▁ ▁Term s ▁of ▁the ▁deal ▁On ▁June ▁ 9 , ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁the ▁league ▁signed ▁a ▁five - year ▁television ▁contract ▁with ▁ABC , ▁which ▁brought ▁in ▁reven ues ▁of ▁approximately ▁$ 2 , 1 2 5 , 0 0 0 ▁per ▁year ▁for ▁the ▁entire ▁league . ▁ ▁The ▁deal ▁called ▁for ▁ABC ▁to ▁broadcast ▁approximately ▁ 3 7 ▁regular ▁season ▁games , ▁the ▁A FL ▁Championship ▁Game ▁and ▁the ▁A FL ▁All - Star ▁Game . ▁ ▁These ▁games ▁were ▁typically ▁broadcast ▁region ally ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁consecutive ▁Sund ays ▁and ▁on ▁Thanks g iving ▁Day . ▁ ▁This ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁ever ▁co oper ative ▁television ▁plan ▁for ▁professional ▁football , ▁in ▁which ▁the ▁proceed s ▁of ▁the ▁contract ▁were ▁divided ▁equally ▁among ▁member ▁clubs ; ▁the ▁National ▁Football ▁League ▁would ▁follow ▁suit ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 , ▁a ▁move ▁that ▁required ▁Congress ▁to ▁pass ▁the ▁Sports ▁Broadcast ing ▁Act ▁of ▁ 1 9 6 1 ▁to ▁accommod ate ▁such ▁collect ive ▁broadcast ing ▁contract s . ▁ ▁In nov ations ▁ABC ▁and ▁the ▁A FL