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Senator goes after NFL - Specter argues DirectTV's Sunday Ticket rights unfair
SI.com ^ | 7 DEC 2006 | AP

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: angusmacspecter; nfl; rino; specter
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Somehow I'm just not surprised that this loser will go after the NFL now....
1 posted on 12/07/2006 6:07:35 PM PST by MikefromOhio
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To: 4everontheRight; ABG(anybody but Gore); Abbeville Conservative; admiralsn; akorahil; albee; ...

NFL PING



FReepmail scott says to be added to, or to be taken off the NFL Ping list...


This is a fairly high volume ping list

2 posted on 12/07/2006 6:08:18 PM PST by MikefromOhio (Prayers for my cousin Jeff and his family.)
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To: MikefromOhio
Is this clown going after ESPN for Monday night football as well?
3 posted on 12/07/2006 6:10:52 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: MikefromOhio

Clearly he has a little too much time on his hands.....


4 posted on 12/07/2006 6:11:18 PM PST by Kimmers
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To: MikefromOhio
Just damn. Doesn't he have anything better to worry about?

I'm a Cowboys fan living in VA. Due to how cable networks broadcast their games based on region, I'm forced to watch the Redskins every Sunday(imagine that). With packages like the ones he's pointlessly bitching about I can see my team play every Sunday.
5 posted on 12/07/2006 6:12:20 PM PST by KoRn
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To: MikefromOhio

I'm just grateful that the senior Senator from Pennsylvania has the big issues properly prioritized.


6 posted on 12/07/2006 6:12:21 PM PST by IslandJeff (FR mail me to be added to the Type I Diabetes ping list)
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To: kinoxi
I would interpret it as such...

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.

I would say that there is a very slim chance that anything will change. There is a law professor in the story that says that chances are it wouldn't stand a court challenge.
7 posted on 12/07/2006 6:12:36 PM PST by MikefromOhio (Prayers for my cousin Jeff and his family.)
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To: Kimmers

Spectre will always be a joke.


8 posted on 12/07/2006 6:12:52 PM PST by unkus
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To: KoRn

Think of what this will do to sports bars...


9 posted on 12/07/2006 6:13:10 PM PST by MikefromOhio (Prayers for my cousin Jeff and his family.)
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To: IslandJeff

Ya know?!?


10 posted on 12/07/2006 6:13:24 PM PST by MikefromOhio (Prayers for my cousin Jeff and his family.)
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To: Kimmers

yeah he does....


11 posted on 12/07/2006 6:13:36 PM PST by MikefromOhio (Prayers for my cousin Jeff and his family.)
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To: MikefromOhio

What is wrong with this nut?


12 posted on 12/07/2006 6:13:48 PM PST by MamaB (mom to an Angel)
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To: MamaB

I don't know.

I think he's just making noise to make noise.


13 posted on 12/07/2006 6:14:24 PM PST by MikefromOhio (Prayers for my cousin Jeff and his family.)
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To: MikefromOhio

Okay, I'm just going to have to go up to Pennsylvania and kick his Scottish butt.

Enough is enough.


14 posted on 12/07/2006 6:14:37 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: MikefromOhio

Who cares about Iran? We need to drag Tagliabue in for hearings!

Scumbags, the bloody lot of them.


15 posted on 12/07/2006 6:15:14 PM PST by IslandJeff (FR mail me to be added to the Type I Diabetes ping list)
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To: MikefromOhio

If I moved to an area where I couldn't watch the Ravens, I would either buy a dish or find a bar with the NFL Ticket package. Jeez. It is not that hard.


16 posted on 12/07/2006 6:15:18 PM PST by CollegeRepublican
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To: MikefromOhio

Note to Arlen: A U.S. Senator has more-important things to do than make sure that a game - A GAME - is according to your liking.


17 posted on 12/07/2006 6:16:05 PM PST by DennisR (Look around - God is giving you countless observable clues of His existence!)
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To: MikefromOhio
Spector should stop wasting his time with this nonsense and instead focus on the important stuff. For example, how and why did the Pittsburgh Stealers bribe the refs to steal the superbowl from the Seahawks last year????
18 posted on 12/07/2006 6:16:46 PM PST by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: MikefromOhio

I don't know what Specter could be thinking?

The NFL isn't a monopoly, there is plenty of competition for the entertainment dollar. The league is just maximizing its revenue, who can argue with that?

If someone doesn't want to pay for these broadcasts, then don't. Watch something else on the other 200 TV stations, listen to radio programs, go out bowling, to a movie, to a bar.


19 posted on 12/07/2006 6:16:52 PM PST by I_Like_Spam
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To: MikefromOhio

Sounds like he is mad about something.

I guess he must have lost the Senate football pool last week.


20 posted on 12/07/2006 6:17:25 PM PST by No Truce With Kings (The opinions expressed are mine! Mine! MINE! All Mine!)
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