Harkin, Senators Encourage FCC to Eradicate Sport Blackouts

Press Release

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in urging the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to end the sports blackout policy. The Senators sent a letter to FCC Commissioners, who are finalizing a rule on such blackouts arguing in favor of fans that are not able to access National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) games.

"Fans are the lifeline of professional sports and Iowans are frustrated by these arcane, anti-consumer rules," said Harkin. "Football fans deserve to watch their favorite team play whether a stadium is full or a contract is being disputed. Baseball fans should have access to games regardless of which state they live in. I am proud to join my colleagues in urging the FCC to take a broad look at sports blackouts and to consider comprehensive reform that ensures fans' access to sports programming."

Blackouts occur when games are not shown on television due to stadium capacity or a dispute-related issue with the team. Today, sport blackouts in the NFL happen if a stadium is not sold out within 72 hours of kickoff, and thus the broadcaster in the team's home market is prohibited from showing the game. The NFL experienced 16 blackouts in 2011, 23 in 2010, and 22 in 2009.

In the MLB, blackouts occur when local broadcast and cable stations have contracts with a team, which takes priority over national broadcasters. In addition, Fox and ESPN have exclusive nationwide rights for MLB games on the weekends, which mean that games beginning during these time periods can only be telecast by the network holding the exclusive national rights. Due to these rules, Iowa fans, for example, often cannot watch the Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, Royals, Twins, or White Sox.

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