The Federal Communications Commission said Thursday it will review whether to get rid of decades-old TV rules rules stopping cable and satellite companies from airing NFL games and other sporting events that are blacked out on local broadcast TV.
The inability to watch games because their local team hasn't sold out their stadium ranks up there with personal seat licenses (PSL's) as two of the biggest complaints of sports fans.
The FCC said it's considering whether it should jettison the rules because they "prevent consumers' access to local sports events, particularly with ticket prices and unemployment at their current high levels."
A coalition of consumer groups and cable-funded advocacy groups petitioned the FCC to dump blackout rules in in November calling them anti-fan.
"This is welcome news for fans everywhere!" said one group, The Sports Fan Coalition, in a statement Thursday.
But NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy countered current blackout rules are vital to keeping games available for on free broadcast TV for millions of viewers. Besides, the number of TV blackouts is falling, according to the NFL.
Only 6.3% of games were blacked out this season (or 16 out of 256 games) compared to 31% of games in the 199o's, 40% in the 1980's and 50% in the 1970's Prior to federal legislation in 1973, all of a team's home games were blacked out.
"The policy is very important in supporting NFL stadiums and the ability of NFL clubs to sell tickets; keeping our games attractive as television programming with large crowds; and ensuring that we can continue to keep our games on free TV," McCarthy stated.
"Teams continue to work hard to sell tickets, including offering installment payment plans, group ticket sales and price flexibility."
About Reid and Mike
Reid Cherner has been with USA TODAY since 1982 and written Game On! since March 2008.
He has covered everything from high schools to horse racing to the college and the pros. The only thing he likes more than his own voice is the sound of readers telling him when he's right and wrong.
Michael Hiestand has covered sports media and marketing for USA TODAY, tackling the sports biz ranging from what's behind mega-events such as the Olympics and Super Bowl to the sometimes-hidden numbers behind the sports world's bottom line.
