uncle flap Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/fcc-to-make-announcement-here-on-sports-blackouts-20140812 From the article: FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai – who was born in Buffalo – was set to join Higgins, Bradley Blakeman of the Sports Fans Coalition and Del Reid of the Buffalo Fan Alliance for the 1 p.m. announcement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outsidethebox Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Sure, lift the blackout rule the year I buy season tickets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I'll believe it when I am able to watch a blacked out Bills game without firing up a satellite dish. But it sure would be nice for everyone to be able to watch on TV if they wanted to. The question is, if the FCC lifts the rule, will the NFL still have the networks blackout anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Day 10 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 what drives me nuts is baseball blackouts. WNY is in like 20% of MLB's territory, including Cleveland. If the Indians are on ESPN, MLB Network, etc I cannot watch it. The only way is to get Directv, subscribe to the extra sports tier so I can get Sports Time Ohio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I wonder when it will take effect? Any chance we get to see the last 2 preseason games on tv? I will probably still go to them but just curious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wiz Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I wonder when it will take effect? Any chance we get to see the last 2 preseason games on tv? I will probably still go to them but just curious I thought one of them was going to be nationally televized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I thought one of them was going to be nationally televized. Yeah, the Tampa one, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Day 10 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 so, anything happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy10 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 I'm pretty sure the FCC can't own television markets in two different sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FutureBillsGM Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Basically one of the FCC Commissioners (there are 5) came to Buffalo to say he supports lifting the blackout rule. Article on the Rochester NBC site. Not sure why this was news. They have come out in support of this before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwight in philly Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) I'm pretty sure the FCC can't own television markets in two different sports. they have no jurisdiction over toronto, but because the bisons are the bluejays farm team, not sure how that would affect the bills.. i think if pegula gets the bills , he couldnt buy the bisons.. Edited August 12, 2014 by dwight in philly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 ESPN has a story on it. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11343286/fcc-chief-supports-repeal-nfl-tv-blackout-rules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodbuster Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 i think if pegula gets the bills , he couldnt buy the bisons.. yeah, but what about el pegual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Blackouts are stupid. All these cities give either tax breaks or actual public funds to maintain, revamp, or even re build these stadiums. If it is publicly funded in any way, the product has no right to be withheld from the LOCAL population. Especially when it is available through the rest of the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle flap Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 @john_wawrow: I certainly would be careful of consequences of lifting blackout rules. The threat if pay-for watching blackout games could be pricey. @john_wawrow: And once that pay-for watching blacked out games is uncorked, it may never be corked. Important to see both sides of blackout issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 @john_wawrow: I certainly would be careful of consequences of lifting blackout rules. The threat if pay-for watching blackout games could be pricey. @john_wawrow: And once that pay-for watching blacked out games is uncorked, it may never be corked. Important to see both sides of blackout issue. Don't lift the black out, no more public subsidy. Easy solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wiz Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Don't lift the black out, no more public subsidy. Easy solution. It could also be the catalyst that sparks another lock out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince88 Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 what drives me nuts is baseball blackouts. WNY is in like 20% of MLB's territory, including Cleveland. If the Indians are on ESPN, MLB Network, etc I cannot watch it. The only way is to get Directv, subscribe to the extra sports tier so I can get Sports Time Ohio. Same issue here. Im a Mets fan and live a 6 hour drive from Citi Field. I am just within the "circle". I have Dish and subscribed to SNY. Dish lost SNY due to contract talks but every time it is an ESPN Game it is blacked out due to the fact I am in that "circle". So I don't watch the Mets any more. What did they accomplish? They lost a dedicated fan. Simple as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 (edited) @john_wawrow: I certainly would be careful of consequences of lifting blackout rules. The threat if pay-for watching blackout games could be pricey. @john_wawrow: And once that pay-for watching blacked out games is uncorked, it may never be corked. Important to see both sides of blackout issue. I don't immediately see anything wrong with a pay-per-view of blacked out games, which is exactly what I would expect the NFL to do (show me the money). Though I imagine the networks and people who still watch over the air would not be very happy about it. Edited August 13, 2014 by CodeMonkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zevo Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I'd pay 50$ for a pay per view bills game....this would be my guess for price point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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