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 ...
Big deal Senator Specter. I want to know when you're going to do something about the stupid NFL overtime rule. It's a national priority! I demand hearings. < /s >
LOL...buy you a soda after the game.
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.....
I can relate - as a lifelong Cleveland fan, the fewer chances I have to watch debacles like last night, the better.
I have a better idea. Maybe someone should read Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution to him. Even better, maybe we should have it branded on the moron's forehead.
I must admit that I've done a bit of a 180 on this issue in the past week or so.
In the past two weeks, I have been told by DirecTV that I cannot view Detroit Red Wings games from Ohio UNLESS I purchase their $170+ sports subscription package. I am not allowed by the FCC to received FSN Detroit, which is what most of the Wings games are broadcast on. I also found out that while I can receive FSN Cincinnati (which is fine), I can't get Cavalier games, for example, on FSN Ohio because I'm 5 miles too far to the west.
This is insane.
I think it's absolutely STUPID to prevent a paying customer in Ohio from receiving FSN Detroit over the Satellite system.
He still shouldn't be going after the NFL. He should instead go after the stupidity of the FCC Rules.
Rant over.
That's what he should do, but that would make too much sense.
well the fine rats of Pennsylvania just voted OUT the best senator this state had to offer and kept the nutcase....
I hope they get a gut full of rat crap, they deserve it....
Are you sure those are FCC rules? That sounds a lot like over-the-air broadcast rules to me. Sounds more like FSN/DirecTV issues.
I'm pretty sure the FCC governs the over the air broadcasts....
The FCC needs to butt out a lot more.
We buy the NFL package --- it's the only way we can see the Chargers every week.
FSN is not an over-the-air network, so I doubt that they would have a say in which FSN feed(s) you can or cannot get. Indeed, since it's DirecTV, they don't have much of a say in which network affiliates you get (no "must-carry" rules for satellite, IIRC).
Cable companies like Charter and Comcast were offered a chance to carry the games, they turned it down..
Some law is preventing them from allowing me to get out of region channels.
I figure that the FCC has something to do with it...and if not the FCC, someone else....
I buy the MLB package and even paying the $200 or so I get games blacked out for the Red Sox even though I have NESN and MLB. Has something to do with broadcast rules for Washington DC/Baltimore
The whole system sucks
What really needs to be addressed is the NFL NETWORK. They now have a Thursday and Saturday game..and you have to PAY TO WATCH. This is only a preview of what the NFL will be in a couple of years. I can't get the NFL Network..so I'm shut out....imagine that? An NFL fan for 30 plus years is blocked. 'Joe Sixpack' is going to be out of the loop. The NFL is so greedy it is going to lose their base.
Know how you feel. I am stuck with the stinking Falcons, Bucs, NC Panthers EVERY DANGED SUNDAY. I get stinking games. I have seen fewer good games this year and more lousy types on our channels here in Alabama. I don't watch much because I could care less about the Atlanta Vicks, I mean Falcons. They stink. Have always stunk, and I have never been a fan of the Falcons.
It's probably FSN themselves, and possibly the leagues. Most of what you're running into is blackout rules and those are written by the leagues and the networks. I've thought for a while FSN needs to package-ize their stuff and let people get out of area broadcasts, being a person who's never rooted much for AZ teams I'd prefer to get something like FSN-Chicago. But because FSN sells so much local area ad time I doubt they'll ever do it.
You don't have to pay to watch the games on NFLN, you just have to have the package with your cable company (and of course the cable company has to include it in a package).
It costs money...so, yes...you have to pay. Are you telling me that your cable co. GIVES you the NFL network at NO COST?
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