In before the virtue-signalers/“I don’t watch sports or have a TV and don’t care but I’m gonna post that I don’t care because I don’t care, really I don’t, do you see me?” crowd.
How is this different from a local game getting blacked out? Not being able to see “the game” is nothing new. There is always the radio play-by-play, and that’s generally free.
TV and radio used to be “free.” You got the signal over the air and had to sit thru commercials.
Then, you needed to have cable or some subscription. The model changed - you paid a flat fee and got a lot of stuff. And you got stuff you hated, like CNN.
The model is changing again…things are becoming unbundled. You gotta pay for what you want.
This seems fair. Unless you’re a non-capitalist who loves being a free rider.
I got on NBC all the time about Peacock but it won’t be pretty seeing the Fish freeze in KC
I remember when the NFL stopped the blackouts in the 1970s. I don’t have cable, preferring streaming services. I first had Sling, but when they dropped the channel that shows the Caps and Wizards, I switched over to Youtube TV. I bit the bullet and signed up for ESPN+ and Peacock to be able to watch other sports. I am more mad about MLB’s blackout rule. I pay for a VPN so I can watch the Nats on mlb.tv.
The "free signal" over the airwaves era is rapidly drawing to an end. I recently drove a car that did not have Sirius/XM radio and was shocked to see what little was available on the FM dial. It was a wasteland of low-budget commercials, canned news segments, and the occasional music - overplayed songs I have already heard a thousand times already.
FM radio used to be my life for a very long time. I was especially a fan of progressive and "deep tracks" album rock hosted by DJ's with impeccable taste in music. Those days are long gone. Now all you hear is "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey followed by four minutes of ads.
The solution is simple ... allow people to pay for the game with their SNAP card
“How is this different from a local game getting blacked out?”
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I think the key word there is “local” game.
NBC is literally Communist, so I am happy to be a free rider with streaming sites
It is new for all fans not to have access to a playoff game.
I remember when people were demanding Ala cart cable. Now they whine when they get it.
The NFL is crony capitalist.
If you don’t believe me, check out who’s paying how much for the Bills’ new stadium.