FCC votes to end local sports blackout rule

[NashLumber]

I heard a blurb on this while out for a walk at lunch. The link I found is very scarce with details. But the radio story mentioned NFL and didn't meantion MLB. I wonder if this will be applied to all major sports?

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/rs/page/12745416/?break_id=10682

"The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to end a 40-year-old policy on blacking out sporting events in local markets when games were not sold out or available for free on open air waves.

Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available."

Found more on ESPN a few minutes later. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11617725/fcc-votes-drop-sports-blackouts-nfl-says-change

"The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 to eliminate its sports blackout rules Tuesday, but the NFL said that it doesn't plan to change the way its broadcasts are handled.

"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."

The FCC vote eliminated rules that were implemented in 1975 to ensure that sports broadcasts would not hurt local ticket sales."

[canonfaz]

I heard a blurb on this while out for a walk at lunch. The link I found is very scarce with details. But the radio story mentioned NFL and didn't meantion MLB. I wonder if this will be applied to all major sports?

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/rs/page/12745416/?break_id=10682

"The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to end a 40-year-old policy on blacking out sporting events in local markets when games were not sold out or available for free on open air waves.

Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available."

Found more on ESPN a few minutes later. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11617725/fcc-votes-drop-sports-blackouts-nfl-says-change

"The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 to eliminate its sports blackout rules Tuesday, but the NFL said that it doesn't plan to change the way its broadcasts are handled.

"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."

The FCC vote eliminated rules that were implemented in 1975 to ensure that sports broadcasts would not hurt local ticket sales."

I don't think that statement is true. Aren't there some games on ESPN and the NFL Network exclusively?

[CA-ORIOLE]

Sounds like the NFL is not too happy about it.

[NashLumber]

I don't think that statement is true. Aren't there some games on ESPN and the NFL Network exclusively?

I wish I could answer that with certainty. I don't follow the NFL very closely. But my guess is you're correct. I was just wondering if this ruling would have any bearing on when MLB blacks out certain so-called regional games on Fox for example. I have missed a few games a year due me living (in Durham NC - almost six hours away) in the O's territory.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I *think* the ESPN and NFL Network games are shown on over-the-air channels, but only in the local markets. So I guess he's technically right.

[lovetoaster]

I *think* the ESPN and NFL Network games are shown on over-the-air channels, but only in the local markets. So I guess he's technically right.

They are. When an NFL game is shown on a cable network, it is also shown on a local over-the-air channel.