Tony Verna, inventor of instant replay, dies at 81

(Image credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Tony Verna, inventor of the instant replay, has died of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was 81.

Verna worked as a TV producer for decades, but his most famous and enduring creation is instant replay, which revolutionized televised sports. Verna developed instant replay, relying on an elaborate videotape system, to fill in the dull gaps between plays during live sporting events.

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Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.