Sports Broadcast Blackouts and Antitrust Exemptions
Witnesses testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on S. 1721, a bill that would eliminate the “sports blackout rule” enforced by t… read more
Witnesses testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on S. 1721, a bill that would eliminate the “sports blackout rule” enforced by the Federal Communications Commission that allows sports leagues to restrict local broadcasts of games that are not sold out. Senator John McCain, the co-sponsor of the legislation, was the first witness. Much of the hearing focused on the National Football League’s blackout practices as opposed to other sports. Witnesses in favor of eliminating the blackout policy said the practice is outdated since the NFL gets most of its revenue from licensing agreements with the networks. The NFL attorney in favor of the policy argued the economic benefits to communities where more fans attend the games, and stated that the league wants a balance of maximizing the live experience with a filled stadium, which he says adds to the enjoyment of television viewers. close
People in this video
-
Gerard Waldron Attorney
Hosting Organization
Related Video
-
Domestic Violence and Sports
Representatives of the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the Nationa…
-
Tax Exemption for Professional Sports Leagues
Andrew Zimbalist talked by remote video from Northampton, Massachusetts, about the tax exempt status of professional spo…
-
Future of Television
Industry leaders talked about the future of television. Topics included ultra-high density (HD) 4K video, next-generatio…
-
International Soccer Governance
Witnesses testified at a hearing on the governance and integrity of international soccer. Topics included the recent sca…