Posted on 02/01/2007 12:49:16 PM PST by Publius Valerius
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NFL has nixed a church's plans to use a wall projector to show the Colts-Bears Super Bowl game, saying it would violate copyright laws.
NFL officials spotted a promotion of Fall Creek Baptist Church's "Super Bowl Bash" on the church Web site last week and overnighted a letter to the pastor demanding the party be canceled, the church said.
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But the NFL objected to the church's plans to use a projector to show the game, saying the law limits it to one TV no bigger than 55 inches.
The church will likely abandon its plans to host a Super Bowl party.
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NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league's long-standing policy is to ban "mass out-of-home viewing" of the Super Bowl. An exception is made for sports bars and other businesses that show televised sports as a part of their everyday operations.
"We have contracts with our (TV) networks to provide free over-the-air television for people at home," Aiello said. "The network economics are based on television ratings and at-home viewing. Out-of-home viewing is not measured by Nielsen."
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"It just frustrates me that most of the places where crowds are going to gather to watch this game are going to be places that are filled with alcohol and other things that are inappropriate for children," Newland said. "We tried to provide an alternative to that and were shut down."
Other Indiana churches said they are deciding whether they should go through with their Super Bowl party plans, given the NFL's stance.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
Depends on your time zone. As you can see from some of the comments, this isn't only isolated to one church.
Your post has to be removed.
Updated FR Excerpt and Link Only or Deny Posting List due to Copyright Complaints
Again, it is the date (Sunday) that is the point of contention, not merely the fact that they're watching football.
Nope.
Actually, the New Testament affirms nine of the ten commandments. The one it misses is Keep holy the Sabbath as that is part of the law. Hebrews admonishes believers to not forsake gathering together, but it does not refer to when or any other requirements. Also, I believe in Acts it refers to believers meeting together on the first day orf the week but also daily.
I live in Indy. I hear they can get around this by merely billing it as something other than "Superbowl". They can call it "Big Game Party" , but than cannot use Superbowl.
So I guess I can't watch the Daytona 500 either in your view. Can I cut my grass or play with my kids?
Make your own decisions.
This from the same jackasses that violated the indecency laws and called it a "wardrobe malfunction!"
I am, I'm deciding to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. My question was, what makes watching a football game on a Sunday wrong? Or what makes watching a football game in a church on a Sunday night wrong? That's what you seem to be implying.
What law did they break, exactly? The Super Bowl is a few days away yet, so obviously they didn't break any copyright law, unless they have a time machine.
>>...have you heard of Sunday being referred to as the Sabbath by Christians?<<
I have. But it is very rare.
Heck, you're doing it. ;)
That isn't happening much...the profit part, that is. They may have been covering the cost of refreshments. I think groups are just getting together to eat and party, but the shin-digs are at God's Houses.
Three things to avoid trouble: 1) Have LOTS of small TVs in different rooms 2) Bring in the food 3) Don't charge to use God's House as a Bear Den.
Been there, done that, God wasn't too happy with the idea.
Hey, maybe Superbowl nite should be "Bible-at-the-Bar" night? Bring the whole family!!
So the whole issue is Nielen ratings (amounting to advertising rates), nothing more. But when sports bars are exempted that shows the NFL is perfectly willing to make exceptions. Because sports bars hurt Nielsen ratings since the congregation of viewers is undercounted.
I never asked which churches. I want to know where in Scripture God moves the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
How about "Big Game party that happens to coincide with the exact date and time of the Superbowl"?
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