The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition (affectionately known as t’owd tin pot) for several years prior to the schism of 1895.
However, the Lancashire authorities had refused to sanction a similar tournament, fearing it would lead to professionalism.
The BBC regularly televised both the Lancashire and Yorkshire Cup finals from 1958–59 to 1984–85 usually as part of the Grandstand programme but after 1984–85 the BBC dropped the county cups from its Rugby League coverage due to cutbacks.
But from 1987–88 to 1990–91 both the Lancashire and Yorkshire Cup finals were televised by ITV in their respective regions.
The 1965–66 and 1968–69 Lancashire Cup finals were played on a Friday night and likely to have been recorded by the BBC and shown on Grandstand the following day.