Poking around the Techknowledgy site [internal link] this morning, I learned that CBC developed the instant replay. Actually, it was a fellow named George Retzlaff who, in the 50s, was the producer/director of Hockey Night in Canada.
George experimentally used a “hot processor” to develop a kinescope (film) recording of a goal within thirty seconds. Instant replay was born!
George Retzlaff was the first HNIC switcher. He was promoted to producer/director half way through their first televised season. George had an innovative vision of how to broadcast sports. He produced and directed HNIC for 20 years and devised many of the techniques and camera angles still used 50 years after HNIC’s 1952 television debut. In 1973, George became the original recipient of hockey’s Foster Hewitt Award for excellence in sports broadcasting.
He died four years ago.
UPDATE: George’s daughter added these comments:
George Retzlaff was my father. He did invent instant replay, but he tried it without permission and they told him not to do it again. It was on hold for a couple of years before it was done again.
George Retzlaff is being honoured at a CBC awards dinner on November 20th, 2007 at the Royal York, as others for their work in CBC sports.
Jan
His daughter
Thanks Jan! 
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I don’t know whether George Retzlaff was involved, but the CBC developed another instant-replay tool not long after videotape came onto the scene. Without going into too much technical detail, it involved setting up two VTRs side by side - one for recording, the second for playback. A jig was built to guide the two-inch videotape between the machines; as a result, there was a delay (seven or eight seconds, if memory serves) between when the original event occurred and when it could be replayed to air. I think the original rig - made of plywood - still exists somewhere. My friends at Sports Journal told me about this several years ago, and this blog item jogged my memory.
And he wore funky shirts! That’s not your regular button-up - it has pizazz!
George Retzlaff was my father. He did invent istant replay, but he tried it without permission and they told him not to do it again. It was on hold for a couple of years before it was done again.
George Retzlaff is being honoured at a CBC awards dinner on November 20th, 2007 at the Royal York, as others for their work in CBC sports.
Jan
His daughter