papazoid Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) will conduct a conference call in advance of the vote. Blumental, Higgins, and Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced legislation in 2013 that would strip the NFL of its broadcast antitrust exemption unless the blackout rule is dumped. At 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the FCC will vote on scuttling the blackout rule, which prevents games from being televised in the home team’s market if the non-premium tickets aren’t fully sold within 72 hours of kickoff. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/30/fcc-is-expected-to-dump-blackout-rule-today/ Edited September 30, 2014 by papazoid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judman Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Good. It's about f-ing time! I'm in Utica,NY and we get screwed by this stupid rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wiz Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Although they are likely to dump the rule, it's similar to comparing a team on paper vs how they actually perform. The dump is a step in the right direction but the NFL isn't going to sit idly by and let it just happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) That's because it's a hollow threat. Apart from the inevitable attack on the broadcast antitrust exemption that would result if games leave free TV, the NFL needs free TV; nothing else would allow the NFL to generate massive live TV audiences. Last week, the NFL renewed a deal with Sky Sports that ensures an enhanced presence of the game on free TV in England, since the NFL realizes that free TV means that more people will watch the games & and in turn that more people will become fans of the sport. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/30/fcc-is-expected-to-dump-blackout-rule-today/ Edited September 30, 2014 by papazoid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Doug Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Although they are likely to dump the rule, it's similar to comparing a team on paper vs how they actually perform. The dump is a step in the right direction but the NFL isn't going to sit idly by and let it just happen. The difference is the US govt is holding all the cards and the NFL isn't. If the NFL wants to continue having its favorable antitrust status, they'll need to play along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Hindsight Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 The difference is the US govt is holding all the cards and the NFL isn't. If the NFL wants to continue having its favorable antitrust status, they'll need to play along. Exactly. They keep asking for public money for stadiums too and think they can still get away with this? Good luck The minute I am charged to watch an NFL game in my home is the day I stop watching. The NFL Knows that and thus will continue showing it on your local networks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRH Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 The way I'm reading it, we still wouldn't be able to watch the Bills over the air here in Rochester if they're blacked out. Only on cable or satellite. Which, hell, is really all I'm asking. Bars all over town would cheer that move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) FCC unanimously dumps blackout rule http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/30/fcc-unanimously-dumps-blackout-rule/ It doesn't mean the blackout rule has died; the NFL and broadcast networks can agree to abide by its terms. Today's decision means only that the NFL can't insist on network blackouts via an FCC policy that previously gave the NFL the ability to pull the plug. Edited September 30, 2014 by papazoid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiberius Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 FCC unanimously dumps blackout rule http://profootballta...-blackout-rule/ It doesn't mean the blackout rule has died; the NFL and broadcast networks can agree to abide by its terms. Today's decision means only that the NFL can't insist on network blackouts via an FCC policy that previously gave the NFL the ability to pull the plug. Doesn't it just make economic sense to networks to how a game in the market where most people will watch it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wiz Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Doesn't it just make economic sense to networks to how a game in the market where most people will watch it? To the local/national networks, yes. To the NFL, they don't care. I'm sure there was something built into the contract for broadcast rights of the NFL that said they had to blackout the game otherwise face legal ramifications. And that being said, the NFL could possibly argue the clause being grandfathered in to the current contract. I know I'm speaking negatively of this but it just has that NFL stink on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangarang Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Meh. This is a step in the right direction but it doesn't actually stop blackouts from happening. The NFL can just work with whatever broadcast company that will agree to continue blacking out games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Bills Fan Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 So if I'm in the TO area, does this mean I can watch all Bills games now? CBF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wiz Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 So if I'm in the TO area, does this mean I can watch all Bills games now? CBF At this point, not sure if it means anything other than they voted to ban the blackout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 "NFL teams have made significant efforts in recent years to minimize blackouts," the NFL responded in a statement Tuesday. "The NFL is the only sports league that televises every one of its games on free, over-the-air television. The FCC's decision will not change that commitment for the foreseeable future." http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11617725/fcc-votes-drop-sports-blackouts-nfl-says-change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 FCC Vote was 5-0 to end NFL Blackouts: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/nfl-blackout-rule-fcc-111441.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judman Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 FCC Vote was 5-0 to end NFL Blackouts: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/nfl-blackout-rule-fcc-111441.html Effective immediately? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 In their contracts that run until 2022, the NFL requires broadcast networks to black out a game if a team does not sell out tickets at least 72 hours before the game starts. And the NFL plans to keep the contract in place. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/30/fcc-eliminates-nfl-blackout-rules/16480131/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Effective immediately? http://www.wgr550.co...ckouts/20013814 The NFL can still circumvent the FCC ruling by agreeing with its rights-holders to continue blacking out games. However, the FCC could continue to fight if the NFL and rights holders agree on blackouts. According to ProFootball Talk, "The next step could be to pursue federal legislation that would eliminate the broadcast antitrust exemption if the NFL doesn’t abandon the blackout practice altogether." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 @thehill Sports blackout rules will be DQ'd in time for #NFL playoffs: http://ow.ly/De5M5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Meh. This is a step in the right direction but it doesn't actually stop blackouts from happening. The NFL can just work with whatever broadcast company that will agree to continue blacking out games. This is exactly what I expect to happen. But now the NFL would be held 100% accountable by fans who do not like the rule instead of being able to hide behind the skirts of the FCC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangarang Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 @thehill Sports blackout rules will be DQ'd in time for #NFL playoffs: http://ow.ly/De5M5 Then there's this: "The agency stressed, however, that the action does not necessarily end blackouts of games. Even after the FCC move, the NFL can still make individual deals with cable and satellite providers to black out certain games. But the league will no longer be afforded any protections to do so under federal regulations, the agency said." So, does this mean that the NFL and the networks that broadcast games can still have a blackout policy and it's just that it can't be enforced or supported by the FCC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 So, does this mean that the NFL and the networks that broadcast games can still have a blackout policy and it's just that it can't be enforced or supported by the FCC? That's exactly what it means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fridge Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Seems as though somehow this was all just a weird ploy to get people to support the FCC again. Sorry censorship, but we still hate you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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