The Federal Communications Commission plans to reconsider its blackout rule that allows the NFL to prohibit local TV broadcasts of games that do not sell out, according to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. The Ohio Democrat earlier this year had asked the NFL to halt the blackout policy. His request was partly prompted by the Cincinnati Bengals, who failed to sell out six of their eight regular-season home games this season, meaning those games could not be broadcast on local television. Such blackouts and the lack of ticket sales that cause them cost the team and local TV stations millions of dollars. Brown’s office said his urging prompted the FCC to say it will release a petition aimed at opening the sports blackout rule for public feedback. “We are one step closer to ending the blackout rule,†Brown said in a news release. “Today, the FCC announced that it would begin taking public comment on the blackout rule, an outdated rule which is unfair to the teams, the fans, and especially the taxpayers. Although the Bengals season ended last week, I’ll keep fighting to repeal the blackout rule.†Source: Business Courier
Why should games in stadiums supported with taxpayer dollars be blacked out? This is just a f'n ripoff by the NFL, and a major reason why I cannot support any tax dollars going for any stadium construction or improvement.
