FCC wants comments on changing sports blackout rules!

[K9SAT]

Get your comments in!


FCC wants comments on changing sports blackout rules

The
Federal Communications Commission


Media Bureau is asking for comments on a petition for rulemaking asking the agency to eliminate its sports blackout rules that prevent multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) from carrying a game if it is blacked out on local TV stations.
The petitioners, which include the Sports Fan Coalition, Public Knowledge, Media Access Project, National Consumers League and League of Fans, told the commission that it should do away with the rules because they impede the access of consumers to local sports events, "particularly with ticket prices and unemployment at their current highs."
According to the commission, the petitioners also said "sports leagues could privately negotiate the same results that the rule affords," thus making the FCC rules unnecessary. Additionally, the commission has the authority to make the change, the petitioners said.
The commission is seeking comment on the petition. Responses to the petition are due Feb. 13 and replies are due Feb. 28.
FCC commissioner Robert McDowell released a statement on the agency's website calling the re-examination of the rules "appropriate" in light of the changing marketplace and expressed pleasure with the decision of the Media Bureau to request comment on the petition.
"Taking a fresh look at this 36-year-old rule could be constructive as we look for rules to streamline and modernize. Over almost four decades, the economics and structure of both the sports and communications industries have experienced dramatic evolutions. We now live in a world with not only local broadcast stations, but also cable, satellite, the Internet and wireless, and where television and merchandizing revenues exceed ticket sales," he said in the statement.

[charper1]

Oh snap! I got loads I can and will send them.

[whitewolf8214]

Oh snap! I got loads I can and will send them.

+1

[stonefeet]

I'll be sending them my comments tomorrow thats for sure!

[whitewolf8214]

I'll be sending them my comments tomorrow thats for sure!

i did today

[Aridon]

I'd be shocked if anything major changed, although I would certainly applaud a over haul with the consumer in mind. Honestly the best thing that could happen would be for them to simply not allow black outs and Sunday Ticket to not be based on a single carrier. Hey a guy can dream can't he?

[Cobra611]

In this day & age, there should not be Blackouts. Who the hell can afford to go to a game nowadays?!?!

[whitewolf8214]

In this day & age, there should not be Blackouts. Who the hell can afford to go to a game nowadays?!?!

+1

[scoop8]

In this day & age, there should not be Blackouts. Who the hell can afford to go to a game nowadays?!?!

I know the reasons for some of the blackouts. ie, ST - local affiliates, etc, but there shouldn't be blackouts for customers that are paying for the specific pro game pkgs, like CI, EI, etc.

[lacubs]

and in Erie,pa the blackout need to go for baseball, they blackout 2 teams!