Recently the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took measures that may possibly eliminate all sports television blackouts — a move that would delight many fans but is up against the strong defense of leagues like the National Football League (NFL).
The NFL is the most notable league to experience a significant number of blackouts per year, with 2011 seeing 16 of them. The NFL’s blackout policy states that in order for a team’s home game to be televised in that team’s market, the game must be sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff.
The FCC is seeking public inquiry on eliminating its own blackout rules, which support league blackout policies. Specifically, the FCC’s blackout rule, which has been in place since 1970, is being targeted. In November, the Sports Fans Coalition, supported by other interest groups, filed a petition to end the FCC’s blackout rule, its executive director Brian Fredrick stating, “We’re asking the government to get out of the business of propping up sports blackouts.” The NFL, however, strongly supports the FCC’s blackout rule, as it is said to ensure a team’s “ability to sell all of its game tickets” and to “make televised games more attractive to viewers through the presence of sellout crowds.”
Fredrick believes that the NFL, along with other leagues, will argue that blackouts are financially necessary and should not be dispelled. In the petition filed in November, interest groups argued that the FCC’s blackout rule “supports anti-fan, anti-consumer behavior by professional sports leagues.” In addition, they believe that the leagues are the main reason this issue exists because, they argue, the leagues overcharge fans for tickets — the whole reason there are so many empty seats come game day in the first place.