FCC proposes ending television sports blackout rules

[ab2cmiller]

FCC proposes ending television sports blackout rules, which would include the NFL
Y! SPORTS

The NFL has made it impossible for local fans to watch their football team unless that game is sold out. For years this system has penalized cities, such as Tampa Bay and San Diego, for not selling out games. There is also little regard for local fans who want to watch their team at home, but cannot afford a ticket.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing eliminating sports blackout rules, which prohibits distributors from showing live sporting events that are not available on local television. If the FCC is successful, it would be a huge blow to leagues, like the NFL, that punish fans for the lack of ticket sales.

Here is the FCC’s explanation:

"We propose to eliminate the sports blackout rules. With respect to professional football, the sport most affected by the sports blackout rules, it appears from the existing record that television revenues have replaced gate receipts as the most significant source of revenue for NFL clubs in the 40 years since the rules were first adopted. Moreover, the record received thus far indicates no direct link between blackouts and increased attendance at NFL games. The record also suggests that the sports blackout rules have little relevance for sports other than professional football, because the distribution rights for most of the games in these sports are sold by individual teams, rather than the leagues. Finally, it appears that the sports blackout rules are unnecessary because sports leagues can pursue local blackout protection through private contractual negotiations. Thus, it appears that the sports blackout rules have become obsolete. Accordingly, if the record in this proceeding, as updated and supplemented by commenters, confirms that the sports blackout rules are no longer necessary to ensure the overall availability to the public of sports telecasts, we propose to repeal these rules."

This is the not the first time the FCC has addressed sports blackouts.

FCC Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn questioned the relevancy of blackout rules last month.

"Changes in the marketplace have raised questions about whether these rules are still in the public interest, particularly at a time when high ticket prices and the economy make it difficult for many sports fans to attend games," Clyburn said in a statement.

Obviously, nothing is cut and dry when it comes to politics and the legal system. The NFL, and other leagues, will fight to maintain their blackout rule. Even if the FCC is successful, leagues could attempt to find a loophole to continue enforcing blackouts.

However, it will be interesting to see if the FCC can eventually blackout the NFL current rules.

 

[phork]

Thankfully.

I went to an NFL a couple weeks back (first time in a long time) and I nearly got into a fight with some jack hole that was drunk off his ass and cussing like sailor in front of my 8 year old.
He even continued after I asked him to stop and then tried to pull the "I'm a season ticket holder here buddy!" And then my buddy who brought me stepped in and said "Yah, so am I. I have these 4 seats, 4 more in another section and 2 more in another section."

From the parking to the concessions its just not worth it to go anymore when you can sit in your home with a 60" HD TV, your own snacks, your own beer, no lines for the bathrooms and plenty of free parking.

 

[ND NYC]

side note:
most nfl stadiums have a zero tolerance for fighting in the stands, and as such will take away your season tickets if you are fighting...whether you were right or wrong and even if the seats have been in you or your families name for decades.
its in the fine print of most (if not all) nfl season ticket subsriptions.
philly fans are notorious for starting fights at giants eagle games at MetLife for the sole purpose just to have the people lose their season tickets.

 

[dshans]

Then there are taxpayers, such as me, who are being fleeced by the NFL and team owners to fund stadiums and attendant ongoing costs for infrastructure, loss of property taxes, etc., etc. etc

I've lived in Minneapolis for 35 years. I've attended two Vikings games – both (one outdoors at the old Metropolitan stadium and one at the soon to be demolished HHH Metrodome) as a guest. The cost of tickets, parking and a hot dog (+ a beer or two) was a budget buster. My interest in Vikings and NFL football is approaching zero.

As a resident of Minneapolis, Hennepin County and Minnesota I am on the hook, as a sales tax and property tax payer, for pretty much 75% of the cost for the next 30 years.

I should live so long!!!

More and more events such as football are migrating to cable TV, where an ever escalating fee is paid monthly for the "favor," all while putting up with an ever increasing number of commercials. All for the sake of enriching team owners paying exorbitant salaries to a select few of their employees.

The Metrodome served as a venue, for many years, for the Vikings, the Twins and the Golden Gophers. Hell, there were even a few Timberwolves basketball games played there. Now I am helping (not by choice, mind you) pay for separate stadiums for the Gophers, the Twins, the Timberwolves and the Vikings.

Granted, Glenn Taylor and the North Stars (Minnesota is, after all, Le Etoille du Nord) hockey team split for Dallas to become The Stars when the city, after caving by building The Target Center, refused to fund additions and upgrades. Good riddance. Though I'm still paying, through state tax expenditures, a part of the cost for the Minnesota Wild and their arena in St. Paul.

Oh, hell. End of rant.



 

 

[ulukinatme]

Thankfully.

I went to an NFL a couple weeks back (first time in a long time) and I nearly got into a fight with some jack hole that was drunk off his ass and cussing like sailor in front of my 8 year old.
He even continued after I asked him to stop and then tried to pull the "I'm a season ticket holder here buddy!" And then my buddy who brought me stepped in and said "Yah, so am I. I have these 4 seats, 4 more in another section and 2 more in another section."

From the parking to the concessions its just not worth it to go anymore when you can sit in your home with a 60" HD TV, your own snacks, your own beer, no lines for the bathrooms and plenty of free parking.

side note:
most nfl stadiums have a zero tolerance for fighting in the stands, and as such will take away your season tickets if you are fighting...whether you were right or wrong and even if the seats have been in you or your families name for decades.
its in the fine print of most (if not all) nfl season ticket subsriptions.
philly fans are notorious for starting fights at giants eagle games at MetLife for the sole purpose just to have the people lose their season tickets.

I've had the misfortune/fortune of attending just one NFL game in my 31 years. It was the 2005 season playoff game between the Steelers and the Bengals. It was also the game where Carson Palmer went down with that knee injury. We scored tickets from a family friend that was best buds with Cowher, his "good luck charm" that went to every away game with him and stood behind him on the sidelines. I didn't care all that much about the Steelers, we were really there to see the Bus play. A number of times during the game Cinci fans tried to pick fights with us. Some guy actually smacked me in the back of the head before the game even started, because I picked up one of the free towels they were giving away. The stadium officials said the towels were for everyone, I didn't even want one, my friend asked me to get one for his dad who was a Bengals fan. I zipped my coat up and we got out of there pretty quick once the game was over, it wasn't a pretty sight.