Posted on 12/07/2006 6:07:31 PM PST by MikefromOhio
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The National Football League's ability to negotiate exclusive sports packages is under fire from the outgoing chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., twice said he would introduce legislation in the next session aimed at eliminating the league's freedom from antitrust laws.
Specter said the NFL should not use the exemption to negotiate exclusive programming packages such as DirectTV Inc.'s "Sunday Ticket," which allows viewers to watch teams outside their regional market.
"As I look at what the NFL is doing today with the NFL channel with the DirectTV ... a lot of people, including myself, would like to be able to have that ticket," Specter said.
But the 1961 law that gives the NFL this freedom should not apply to DirectTV because it is not "sponsored programming," said Stephen Ross, a law professor at Pennsylvania State University and chair of the school's sports law institute. He said the Pennsylvania senator could be using the threat of legislation to pressure the NFL to make changes voluntarily.
Access to out-of-market football games was one of many consumer fairness issues addressed during the hearing. Another hot topic was whether cable providers should be forced to share sports broadcasting rights with every service provider in an area.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
And do it cheaper than going to a sports bar every Sunday!
Heaven help the Florida-residing Bronco fans find bars showing Bronco games.
Acutally, I would prefer the Congress spend all its time on such matters, so that they have no time left to do anything else. The less they "govern" the better it is for the people.
MLB and NFL should be compelled to make every game in every market available over the internet, regardless of geographic considerations. And no NFL games should be permitted on Thursday night until and unless the NFL network is available on every cable system nationwide. It is un-American to broadcast an NFL game which half of America is unable to watch.
For an NFL TV contract that's not actually very much, reports are the 4 primary packages are hauling in 3.1 Billion a year (close to half of that is from ESPN who threw an unseemly number on the table, of course they now have the highest rated program in cable TV history so I think it's working for them).
As a Bolts fan living in Dallas, I can tell you that this year my investment in the DirecTV Sunday Ticket package has been well worth the cash.
Especially that amazing game against the Bengals a few weeks ago. WOW!
But there's gotta be something he can use under Scottish law (ala "not proven") right?
"He said the Pennsylvania senator could be using the threat of legislation to pressure the NFL to make changes voluntarily."
Well then, in that case it sure as heck ain't voluntary. Leftists/Socialists have no idea what individual liberty, capitalism or voluntary even mean.
The NFL is America. I couldn't care less about stupid baseball. But every football game should be available if someone is wiling to pay for it.
You got it, Mr Ogletorp.
And not only does Comcast bitch about not getting the NFL ticket, they refuse to let their Comcast Sports Net be broadcast on Directv. Since I REFUSE to give Comcast one thin dime, I can't watch the Philles, Sixers or Flyers most games.
Some would say that's a good thing.....
He's beena democrat too long in his heart. Part of the something for nothing bunch.
I guess he has to make good on some of those promises he got paid for before his chairmanship ends.......
This must be an old post. As you well know Specter died 22 years years ago. What you have been seeing is his embalmed remains. I assure you he's as cold as a mackeral!
LOL
well then he's speaking and proposing bills from beyond the grave :)
"Leftists/Socialists have no idea what individual liberty, capitalism or voluntary even mean."
Unfortunately, neither do Republicans.
They can have my Sunday Ticket when they can pry it out of my cold, dead, satellite dish.
Exactly!!!!
Although my Satellite Dish is plenty cold right now...it's working just fine :)
Well, good for you Mr. "magic bullet". But how does the fact that I can get access to these games (a service for which I pay extra, I might add) dimish the fact that you will still receive at least three games per week in your area if you have access to the broadcast networks, and up to five games per week if you get ESPN and NFL network? (And even more once they start showing Saturday games in December.)
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