ABC rejected the film as incomprehensible for a mainstream audience.
Ancient rumors say that D.A. Pennebaker's version, called "Something Is Happening", may soon become available. His cut reportedly contains more music than what eventually wound up in "Eat the Document".
According to a NY Times article (October 28, 1966), the film was originally promoted as a segment of the anthology series "ABC Stage 67 (1966)" on November 16, 1966, but was postponed by the network because "...it became clear that filming would not be completed in time to meet the scheduled air date." Airing in its place was "Evening Primrose (1966)."
D.A. Pennebaker visited Dylan at his Woodstock home in 1967, during the latter's retreat from music [and music deals arranged by his estranged manager], and was horrified to find that Dylan, with Robbie Robertson, had been editing the footage without making a safety film copy first, losing large amounts of the material Pennebaker had shot forever. [PM]