New Formula

Jerry and the Derby obliged, making an appearance before a whopping 9,000 fans in Portland. Jerry realized that he had discovered a new promotional formula and began syndicating videotapes of games to more independent stations and followed up with Derby appearances in the cities where the tapes were sent.

TV Exposure

By 1961, 40 stations carried Derby, and within the next few years, others began to snatch up broadcasting rights for their respective areas. Even though Jerry understood that TV exposure was essential to the sport’s revitalization, he didn’t want to repeat his father’s mistakes and used the medium exclusively to publicize live matches instead of serving as a source of revenue for the skater's salaries.