The US Federal Communications Commission will today (Tuesday) vote on a proposal to end the controversial ‘blackout’ rule that blocks certain sports events from being shown live on television in their local market if they fail to meet a specified level of ticket sales.
The Reuters news agency said four of the five FCC commissioners, including chairman Tom Wheeler, have publicly indicated support for ending the policy, which is backed by the broadcasters and American football league the NFL.
The policy has prohibited cable and satellite television providers from airing sports games in their home markets if a league or a team requires that all or most of the tickets be sold before the game can be shown on television. The rule was implemented in 1975 as a means to ensure game broadcasts did not harm ticket sales, but has faced increased criticism that it is now outdated.
The NFL and the broadcasters have argued that without the blackout rule, American football games may become available only to those who pay for cable and satellite service instead of free over-the-air television. However, if it is overturned sports leagues, broadcasters and cable and satellite companies could still privately negotiate blackout agreements.
Under NFL rules, a game is ‘blacked out’ in the local television market unless it has sold out 72 hours before kick-off. Earlier this month, Wheeler said the rules “make no sense at all” in the current marketplace.
Writing in a column in the USA Today newspaper, Wheeler said: “The sports blackout rules are a bad hangover from the days when barely 40 per cent of games sold out and gate receipts were the league's principal source of revenue.
“The bottom line is the NFL no longer needs the government's help to remain viable. And we at the FCC shouldn't be complicit in preventing sports fans from watching their favourite teams on TV. It's time to sack the sports blackout rules for good.”