The Tunnel (1962 film)

NBC, who were in competition with CBS to be first to film a tunnel escape for their news programs, financed the excavation project, giving the students (the 2016 equivalent of) about $150,000 for exclusive rights to film them digging. An internal memo issued by Frank to the crew working on the documentary included the following outline of the goals of television news production: == Broadcast postponement ==

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) officially announced on 11 October 1962 that it was going to televise the documentary on 31 October from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (EST). Reluctant to add to global tensions in light of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the television network decided on 23 October to indefinitely postpone the broadcast. The Kennedy administration had opposed airing the documentary, worried that NBC was increasing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. Robert F. Kennedy, the president's brother and attorney general, was reported to have commented "That was a terrible thing you people did, buying that tunnel." Concerns about the ethics of NBC's involvement and the safety of the students were also expressed. ==See also==