Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-08 Thread Tom Wolper 
On Fri, Nov 8, 2013 at 1:58 PM, Joe Hass  wrote:

> Way back on Monday, November 4, 2013 at 2:21 PM, Doug Fields <
> d...@flids.net> wrote:
>
>> Hmmm…now that I read back over this thread, maybe we **are** talking
>> about two different things.  I’m specifically talking about the NFL’s
>> blackout rule.  I’m not aware of any rules affecting the broadcast of the
>> home games of any of the other major sports.
>>
>
> After finally doing a couple Google searches, there are two things in play
> here:
>
> Public Law 
> 93-107,
> which covers the NFL blackout law. That law expired in 1975. The FCC has
> nothing to do with this (and here's the 
> PDFtelling 
> you as much).
>
> The FCC rule original published in 1975 which covers the "blacking out WGN
> America in Pittsburgh if the game is on an OTA station" situation (here's
> the updated rule ). This,
> apparently, is what the acting commissioner was talking about, because it's
> the only thing the FCC has a say in when it comes to blackouts.
>
> And apparently few people understand the difference between the 
> two
> .
>
> I apologize for all the confusion I caused on this thing. I'll go sit in
> the corner for a while and think about what I've done.
>

On the other hand, we collectively cleared up something for ourselves which
is confusing and obviously often misunderstood.

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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-08 Thread Joe Hass 
Way back on Monday, November 4, 2013 at 2:21 PM, Doug Fields  wrote:

> Hmmm…now that I read back over this thread, maybe we **are** talking
> about two different things.  I’m specifically talking about the NFL’s
> blackout rule.  I’m not aware of any rules affecting the broadcast of the
> home games of any of the other major sports.
>

After finally doing a couple Google searches, there are two things in play
here:

Public Law 
93-107,
which covers the NFL blackout law. That law expired in 1975. The FCC has
nothing to do with this (and here's the
PDFtelling
you as much).

The FCC rule original published in 1975 which covers the "blacking out WGN
America in Pittsburgh if the game is on an OTA station" situation (here's
the updated rule ). This,
apparently, is what the acting commissioner was talking about, because it's
the only thing the FCC has a say in when it comes to blackouts.

And apparently few people understand the difference between the
two
.

I apologize for all the confusion I caused on this thing. I'll go sit in
the corner for a while and think about what I've done.

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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-05 Thread PGage 
On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 12:25 PM, Doug Fields  wrote:

> Nope…upon further research, it appears I was on the right track after all.
>
>
>
>
> http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/01/us-usa-broadcasting-blackout-idUSBRE9A00ZW20131101
>

Here is another storty that makes the same point, in somewhat expanded form:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-blackout-fcc-nfl-20131104,0,5510670.story#axzz2joqp3Ypn

This has been an unusually confusing story - because FCC Commissioner
Mignon Clyburn was so cryptic in her statement (back when she was acting
chair last week), and because I (and, it seems, many sports fans) were so
fuzzy on what the actual rule has been, and because many of the news
reports were equally fuzzy, and did little to clarify the situation.

The FCC rule prevents cable/satellite providers from circumventing a local
sports blackout. The FCC neither requires local blackouts, nor requires
them to be lifted. Lifting this rule is mostly an issue in the broadcaster
vs cable wars, and has little to do with making sports programing more
accessible to the public.

The Times article notes that:
"Blackouts used to be commonplace in the NFL. In 1980, 35% of all games
were blacked out in a team's home market. By 2000, the figure was down to
14%. Last year, only 6% of games were blacked out and this year none have
been blacked out."

I suspect most of the recent blackouts have been Raider games.


I think Doug's original question still stands unanswered: How did the
original rule ever serve the public interest? Similarly, how does getting
rid of the rule serve the public interest?

It seems like the idea is that the rule serves the public interest by
making sure that cable operators do not have an unfair advantage vs over
the air broadcasters; this ensures that sports programing will continue to
be available over the air. Getting rid of the rule serves the public I
suppose because so many fans now have access to cable/satellite that they
do not need over the air, and are hurt by not being able to access distant
feeds of locally blacked out events.

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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-05 Thread Steve Timko 
Reno was blacked out on 49ers and Raiders games.
Worst part was when there was a killer 49ers or Raiders game on the road
that you absolutely wanted to watch, Reno would get some other crappy game
because the networks are trying to pad the viewers for advertisers stuck
with the game no one wanted to watch.



On Tue, Nov 5, 2013 at 1:39 PM, Dave Sikula  wrote:

> Reminds me that a Dodger fan friend of mine who lives in Hawaii is blacked
> out of all West Coast games (Pads, Dodgers, Angels, Giants, A's, and
> Mariners). I assume MLB wants to encourage him to climb onto a plane and
> fly six hours if he wants to see a Dodger broadcast.
>
> --Dave Sikula
>
>
> On Monday, November 4, 2013 7:56:38 PM UTC-8, Bob in Jersey wrote:
>>
>>
>> Joe Hass, to Doug Fields, in part:
>>>
>>> The reasonable question to ask of the acting Chairwoman is whether the
>>> Commission is interested in looking at the situation today with these other
>>> blackout rules (probably the two most onerous being Fox's Saturday baseball
>>> blackout rules and MLB's bizarre home market 
>>> map
>>>  which
>>> makes the entire state of Iowa part of the home market of one-fifth of the
>>> league and extends "home market" to distances of 500 miles or more) and
>>> whether they are part of "the public interest" or if they simply decide
>>> it's just the free market at work. Hint: if they were really serious,
>>> they'd just need to utter two words: "antitrust exemption".
>>>
>>
>> I always preferred this more-detailed, and of course larger, version of
>> the map linked above:
>>
>> http://www.desipio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mlb-broadcast-map.jpg
>>
>> B
>>
>
> On Monday, November 4, 2013 7:56:38 PM UTC-8, Bob in Jersey wrote:
>>
>>
>> Joe Hass, to Doug Fields, in part:
>>>
>>> The reasonable question to ask of the acting Chairwoman is whether the
>>> Commission is interested in looking at the situation today with these other
>>> blackout rules (probably the two most onerous being Fox's Saturday baseball
>>> blackout rules and MLB's bizarre home market 
>>> map
>>>  which
>>> makes the entire state of Iowa part of the home market of one-fifth of the
>>> league and extends "home market" to distances of 500 miles or more) and
>>> whether they are part of "the public interest" or if they simply decide
>>> it's just the free market at work. Hint: if they were really serious,
>>> they'd just need to utter two words: "antitrust exemption".
>>>
>>
>> I always preferred this more-detailed, and of course larger, version of
>> the map linked above:
>>
>> http://www.desipio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mlb-broadcast-map.jpg
>>
>> B
>>
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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-05 Thread Dave Sikula 
Reminds me that a Dodger fan friend of mine who lives in Hawaii is blacked 
out of all West Coast games (Pads, Dodgers, Angels, Giants, A's, and 
Mariners). I assume MLB wants to encourage him to climb onto a plane and 
fly six hours if he wants to see a Dodger broadcast.

--Dave Sikula

On Monday, November 4, 2013 7:56:38 PM UTC-8, Bob in Jersey wrote:
>
>
> Joe Hass, to Doug Fields, in part:
>>
>> The reasonable question to ask of the acting Chairwoman is whether the 
>> Commission is interested in looking at the situation today with these other 
>> blackout rules (probably the two most onerous being Fox's Saturday baseball 
>> blackout rules and MLB's bizarre home market 
>> map
>>  which 
>> makes the entire state of Iowa part of the home market of one-fifth of the 
>> league and extends "home market" to distances of 500 miles or more) and 
>> whether they are part of "the public interest" or if they simply decide 
>> it's just the free market at work. Hint: if they were really serious, 
>> they'd just need to utter two words: "antitrust exemption". 
>>
>
> I always preferred this more-detailed, and of course larger, version of 
> the map linked above:
>
> http://www.desipio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mlb-broadcast-map.jpg
>
> B
>

On Monday, November 4, 2013 7:56:38 PM UTC-8, Bob in Jersey wrote:
>
>
> Joe Hass, to Doug Fields, in part:
>>
>> The reasonable question to ask of the acting Chairwoman is whether the 
>> Commission is interested in looking at the situation today with these other 
>> blackout rules (probably the two most onerous being Fox's Saturday baseball 
>> blackout rules and MLB's bizarre home market 
>> map
>>  which 
>> makes the entire state of Iowa part of the home market of one-fifth of the 
>> league and extends "home market" to distances of 500 miles or more) and 
>> whether they are part of "the public interest" or if they simply decide 
>> it's just the free market at work. Hint: if they were really serious, 
>> they'd just need to utter two words: "antitrust exemption". 
>>
>
> I always preferred this more-detailed, and of course larger, version of 
> the map linked above:
>
> http://www.desipio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mlb-broadcast-map.jpg
>
> B
>

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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Bob in Jersey 

Joe Hass, to Doug Fields, in part:
>
> The reasonable question to ask of the acting Chairwoman is whether the 
> Commission is interested in looking at the situation today with these other 
> blackout rules (probably the two most onerous being Fox's Saturday baseball 
> blackout rules and MLB's bizarre home market 
> map
>  which 
> makes the entire state of Iowa part of the home market of one-fifth of the 
> league and extends "home market" to distances of 500 miles or more) and 
> whether they are part of "the public interest" or if they simply decide 
> it's just the free market at work. Hint: if they were really serious, 
> they'd just need to utter two words: "antitrust exemption". 
>

I always preferred this more-detailed, and of course larger, version of the 
map linked above:

http://www.desipio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mlb-broadcast-map.jpg

B

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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Bob in Jersey 

JW, to Doug Fields, in part:
>
> > Hmmm.now that I read back over this thread, maybe we *are* talking about 
> two
> > different things. I'm specifically talking about the NFL's blackout rule.
> > I'm not aware of any rules affecting the broadcast of the home games of 
> any
> > of the other major sports.
>
> The other rule may be the one that allows local rightsholders to demand 
> that other entities be blacked out. For instance, if the Cubs are playing 
> the Pirates, WGN America will often have a slide up (courtesy of the local 
> cable company, I'm sure) saying that FCC rules bar them from showing the 
> game in Pittsburgh.
>

Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations, section 76.111. Companions are 76.127 
which covers satellited events, and 76.128 further explains the definition 
of territory that may be subject to a blackout.


B

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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Tom Wolper 
On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 5:50 PM, Joe Hass  wrote:

>
> The reasonable question to ask of the acting Chairwoman is whether the
> Commission is interested in looking at the situation today with these other
> blackout rules (probably the two most onerous being Fox's Saturday baseball
> blackout rules and MLB's bizarre home market 
> map
>  which
> makes the entire state of Iowa part of the home market of one-fifth of the
> league and extends "home market" to distances of 500 miles or more) and
> whether they are part of "the public interest" or if they simply decide
> it's just the free market at work. Hint: if they were really serious,
> they'd just need to utter two words: "antitrust exemption".
>

Today was the acting chairwoman's last day and this decision might be
relevant to that context. Meaning she may not be responsible for the
consequences.

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RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread JW 
> Hmmm.now that I read back over this thread, maybe we *are* talking about
two
> different things. I'm specifically talking about the NFL's blackout rule.
> I'm not aware of any rules affecting the broadcast of the home games of
any
> of the other major sports.

The other rule may be the one that allows local rightsholders to demand
that other entities be blacked out. For instance, if the Cubs are playing
the Pirates, WGN America will often have a slide up (courtesy of the local
cable company, I'm sure) saying that FCC rules bar them from showing the
game in Pittsburgh.

My recollection is that the NFL rule was actually put into place
"voluntarily" by the league in about 1973 when Congress started to threaten
to pass laws. Before that, all home games were blacked out regardless of
the ticket situation, so that I had to hear the Immaculate Reception on
radio. Even Super Bowls were blacked out in the markets where they were
played. With all the changes of the last forty years, about the only
benefit I can see for anyone is teams having an excuse to sell their last
few thousand seats right before the deadline.

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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Jim Ellwanger 
On Nov 4, 2013, at 2:50 PM, Joe Hass wrote:

> The reasonable question to ask of the acting Chairwoman is whether the 
> Commission is interested in looking at the situation today with these other 
> blackout rules (probably the two most onerous being Fox's Saturday baseball 
> blackout rules...

This one is gone with the new 2014 TV contract -- Fox's Saturday games will be 
available on MLB.tv and MLB Extra Innings:  
http://www.baseballnation.com/2012/10/2/3443876/mlb-tv-blackouts-fox-sports-ending-2014

-- 
Jim Ellwanger 



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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Joe Hass 
There was a time when the NFL blacked out all home games, whether they were
sold out or not, to encourage ticket sales. This changed after the 1972
season when the Washington team was blacked out during their sold-out
playoff run (yep, they even blacked out the playoffs). Because, as usual,
frequently nothing happens on the Federal level if it doesn't directly
affect the Washington area, the Feds passed the law prohibiting home-team
blackouts when teams sold out their facility at least 72 hours prior to the
start of the contest. The argument was that to prohibit broadcast of an
event was not in the public interest. That's the law that has remained in
effect today.

My reference to the NHL was that the Chicago Blackhawks (then owned by the
cheap-and-thankfully-now-dead Bill Wirtz), was (to my knowledge) the only
non-NFL that used that law to black out home games, including network-aired
contests, if the games weren't sold out.

Every other blackout rule you know of is negotiated by league/teams and
broadcasters, and have nothing to do with this law. The number of NFL games
blacked out has dropped significantly over the years. The NFL has even
offered to lower their standards to lift blackouts (though it's been
reported that teams have opted to take the blackout over the financial cost
of taking advantage). So the law as written is pointless today.

The reasonable question to ask of the acting Chairwoman is whether the
Commission is interested in looking at the situation today with these other
blackout rules (probably the two most onerous being Fox's Saturday baseball
blackout rules and MLB's bizarre home market
map<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/MLB_Blackout_Areas.png>
which
makes the entire state of Iowa part of the home market of one-fifth of the
league and extends "home market" to distances of 500 miles or more) and
whether they are part of "the public interest" or if they simply decide
it's just the free market at work. Hint: if they were really serious,
they'd just need to utter two words: "antitrust exemption".



On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 2:25 PM, Doug Fields  wrote:

> Nope…upon further research, it appears I was on the right track after all.
>
>
>
>
> http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/01/us-usa-broadcasting-blackout-idUSBRE9A00ZW20131101
>
>
>
> Doug Fields
>
> Tampa, FL
>
>
>
> *From:* tvornottv@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com] *On
> Behalf Of *Doug Fields
> *Sent:* Monday, November 04, 2013 3:22 PM
>
> *To:* tvornottv@googlegroups.com
> *Subject:* RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout
> rules
>
>
>
> Hmmm…now that I read back over this thread, maybe we **are** talking
> about two different things.  I’m specifically talking about the NFL’s
> blackout rule.  I’m not aware of any rules affecting the broadcast of the
> home games of any of the other major sports.
>
>
>
> DF
>
>
>
> *From:* tvornottv@googlegroups.com 
> [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com]
> *On Behalf Of *Doug Fields
> *Sent:* Monday, November 04, 2013 3:12 PM
> *To:* tvornottv@googlegroups.com
> *Subject:* RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout
> rules
>
>
>
> Could we possibly be talking about two different things?  There is no rule
> **prohibiting** blacking out home games.  The rule **requires** home
> games be blacked out, unless 85% or more of the stadium’s seats are sold 72
> hours prior to game time.
>
>
>
> Doug Fields
>
> Tampa, FL
>
>
>
> *From:* tvornottv@googlegroups.com 
> [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com]
> *On Behalf Of *Joe Hass
> *Sent:* Monday, November 04, 2013 2:31 PM
> *To:* TV Or Not TV
> *Subject:* Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout
> rules
>
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 12:33 PM,  wrote:
>
>
>
> I'd like to hear even one example (even a far-fetched one) of how the
> blackout rules have ever been "in the public interest."
>
>
>
> I'd say the initial idea when the rule was creating: that prohibiting
> blacking out home games in their own market allowed fans of all types to be
> able to see the games, even if they couldn't afford the tickets. Given the
> amount of money that communities give towards the building of these
> facilities*, they become de facto in the public interest. Even Dollar Bill
> Wirtz would let the very-rare sold-out Blackhawks games air.
>
>
>
> That said, the rule is now utterly obsolete. Now the question becomes
> "does the FCC consider OTA broadcasts part of being in the public interest,
> especially in markets (as discussed in these parts earlier) that do not
> have any non-network or cable OTA broadc

RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Doug Fields 
Nope.upon further research, it appears I was on the right track after all.

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/01/us-usa-broadcasting-blackout-idUSB
RE9A00ZW20131101

 

Doug Fields

Tampa, FL

 

From: tvornottv@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Doug Fields
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 3:22 PM
To: tvornottv@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

 

Hmmm.now that I read back over this thread, maybe we *are* talking about two
different things.  I'm specifically talking about the NFL's blackout rule.
I'm not aware of any rules affecting the broadcast of the home games of any
of the other major sports.

 

DF

 

From: tvornottv@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Doug Fields
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 3:12 PM
To: tvornottv@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

 

Could we possibly be talking about two different things?  There is no rule
*prohibiting* blacking out home games.  The rule *requires* home games be
blacked out, unless 85% or more of the stadium's seats are sold 72 hours
prior to game time.

 

Doug Fields

Tampa, FL

 

From: tvornottv@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Joe Hass
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 2:31 PM
To: TV Or Not TV
Subject: Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

 

On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 12:33 PM,  wrote:

 

I'd like to hear even one example (even a far-fetched one) of how the
blackout rules have ever been "in the public interest."

 

I'd say the initial idea when the rule was creating: that prohibiting
blacking out home games in their own market allowed fans of all types to be
able to see the games, even if they couldn't afford the tickets. Given the
amount of money that communities give towards the building of these
facilities*, they become de facto in the public interest. Even Dollar Bill
Wirtz would let the very-rare sold-out Blackhawks games air.

 

That said, the rule is now utterly obsolete. Now the question becomes "does
the FCC consider OTA broadcasts part of being in the public interest,
especially in markets (as discussed in these parts earlier) that do not have
any non-network or cable OTA broadcasts?" That's where the battle between
free markets and public interests comes back into play.

 

* I'm aware this fact could launch into its own discussion that could raise
my blood pressure, for which I will simply state this fact and continue.  

.

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RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Doug Fields 
Hmmm.now that I read back over this thread, maybe we *are* talking about two
different things.  I'm specifically talking about the NFL's blackout rule.
I'm not aware of any rules affecting the broadcast of the home games of any
of the other major sports.

 

DF

 

From: tvornottv@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Doug Fields
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 3:12 PM
To: tvornottv@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

 

Could we possibly be talking about two different things?  There is no rule
*prohibiting* blacking out home games.  The rule *requires* home games be
blacked out, unless 85% or more of the stadium's seats are sold 72 hours
prior to game time.

 

Doug Fields

Tampa, FL

 

From: tvornottv@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Joe Hass
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 2:31 PM
To: TV Or Not TV
Subject: Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

 

On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 12:33 PM,  wrote:

 

I'd like to hear even one example (even a far-fetched one) of how the
blackout rules have ever been "in the public interest."

 

I'd say the initial idea when the rule was creating: that prohibiting
blacking out home games in their own market allowed fans of all types to be
able to see the games, even if they couldn't afford the tickets. Given the
amount of money that communities give towards the building of these
facilities*, they become de facto in the public interest. Even Dollar Bill
Wirtz would let the very-rare sold-out Blackhawks games air.

 

That said, the rule is now utterly obsolete. Now the question becomes "does
the FCC consider OTA broadcasts part of being in the public interest,
especially in markets (as discussed in these parts earlier) that do not have
any non-network or cable OTA broadcasts?" That's where the battle between
free markets and public interests comes back into play.

 

* I'm aware this fact could launch into its own discussion that could raise
my blood pressure, for which I will simply state this fact and continue.  

.

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RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Doug Fields 
Could we possibly be talking about two different things?  There is no rule
*prohibiting* blacking out home games.  The rule *requires* home games be
blacked out, unless 85% or more of the stadium's seats are sold 72 hours
prior to game time.

 

Doug Fields

Tampa, FL

 

From: tvornottv@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvornottv@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Joe Hass
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 2:31 PM
To: TV Or Not TV
Subject: Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

 

On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 12:33 PM,  wrote:

 

I'd like to hear even one example (even a far-fetched one) of how the
blackout rules have ever been "in the public interest."

 

I'd say the initial idea when the rule was creating: that prohibiting
blacking out home games in their own market allowed fans of all types to be
able to see the games, even if they couldn't afford the tickets. Given the
amount of money that communities give towards the building of these
facilities*, they become de facto in the public interest. Even Dollar Bill
Wirtz would let the very-rare sold-out Blackhawks games air.

 

That said, the rule is now utterly obsolete. Now the question becomes "does
the FCC consider OTA broadcasts part of being in the public interest,
especially in markets (as discussed in these parts earlier) that do not have
any non-network or cable OTA broadcasts?" That's where the battle between
free markets and public interests comes back into play.

 

* I'm aware this fact could launch into its own discussion that could raise
my blood pressure, for which I will simply state this fact and continue.  

.

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Re: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread Joe Hass 
On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 12:33 PM,  wrote:

>
> I'd like to hear even one example (even a far-fetched one) of how the
> blackout rules have ever been "in the public interest."
>

I'd say the initial idea when the rule was creating: that prohibiting
blacking out home games in their own market allowed fans of all types to be
able to see the games, even if they couldn't afford the tickets. Given the
amount of money that communities give towards the building of these
facilities*, they become de facto in the public interest. Even Dollar Bill
Wirtz would let the very-rare sold-out Blackhawks games air.

That said, the rule is now utterly obsolete. Now the question becomes "does
the FCC consider OTA broadcasts part of being in the public interest,
especially in markets (as discussed in these parts earlier) that do not
have any non-network or cable OTA broadcasts?" That's where the battle
between free markets and public interests comes back into play.

* I'm aware this fact could launch into its own discussion that could raise
my blood pressure, for which I will simply state this fact and continue.

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RE: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules

2013-11-04 Thread doug 
Now wait just a second...Clyburn saying "the rules [are] no longer in the public interest" implies that they previously *were* considered in the public interest.  In what way?  I always understood the blackout rules were in effect to protect the NFL and the team owners, under the assumption that providing free television access to home games would cut into ticket sales.  I'd like to hear even one example (even a far-fetched one) of how the blackout rules have ever been "in the public interest."Doug FieldsTampa, FL  (go Bucs!) 


 Original Message 
Subject: [TV orNotTV] FCC considering eliminating sports blackout rules
From: "K.M. Richards" 
Date: Mon, November 04, 2013 1:11 pm
To: tvornottv@googlegroups.com

Acting Chair Mignon Clyburn says "changes in the marketplace" (namely, high ticket prices at venues) may make the rules no longer in the public interest.  But the leagues can still negotiate with broadcasters, cable and satellite to create and enforce blackout rules of their own:http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db1101/DOC-323842A1.pdf  





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