NFL Fights To Save TV Blackout Rule Despite $9 Billion Revenue

An anonymous reader writes with word of new movement on an old front: namely, the rule that makes it hard for sports fans to see coverage of local teams. The 39-year-old blackout rule basically "prevents games from being televised locally when tickets remain unsold." The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in response to a 2011 petition by consumers, has decided to consider abolishing this rule. The National Football League (NFL) has of course objected, claiming that the rule allows it to keep airing their games on free TV. If that were to change and they would have to move to cable, they argue, the "result would represent a substantial loss of consumer welfare." In their petition to the FCC, consumers point out that the NFL charges "exorbitant prices for tickets" which results in lower attendance. The blackout rule, they claim, therefore punishes fans by preventing them from watching the game if the NFL can't sell enough stadium tickets. NFL yearly profits reportedly number in the billions. Even if the FCC supports the petition, however, sports leagues can and probably will privately negotiate blackouts to boost their revenue.

Comments

Punishes fans?

[TrollstonButterbeans]

"NFL charges exorbitant prices for tickets" ...

" punishes fans by preventing them from watching the game if the NFL can't sell enough stadium tickets"

"NFL yearly profits reportedly number in the billions.".

Sounds like the obvious answer is "Then don't watch it."

But I can see this article isn't about rationality, but about "I want to watch it" and "I want it to be free" and "I want it available under my terms".

Re:Punishes fans?

[dk20]

They can also do what Toronto, Ontario did with its skydome.
Taxpayer funded cost of construction: $570 million
Sale price to private corporations: $151 million

So yeah, i can see how the taxpayers might want something after taking a $400 million dollar loss. The kicker is this is not the only "stadium" for such a small city.

A lot of sports is all about taxpayer subsidies and huge player salaries.

Re:Punishes fans?

[Gogo0]

pro football is like smoking crack, only harder to kick.

the NFL hates its fans with a *passion*, as evident by their business practices, and they punish us every way they can find (new terrible red zone ads, EA madden exclusivity, directv/verizon exclusivity, ~$90 preseason game ticket prices, $200 streaming games only outside the USA [NHL is $50, MLB similar -both available in the USA], etc).

if anyone (myself included) *could* quit enjoying seeing their team play, we would have already, and the NFL knows. the NFL is a shit organization, but we the fans have made it clear that we will put up with whatever bullshit they throw at us.

anyway, i dont think its unreasonable to want to be able to watch a game on tv. watching at home and attending a game are entirely different things. no one says 'lets not go to the game, it's on tv".
its very telling that the NFL needs a *law* to force people to go to games and pay their exhorbitant ticket costs.

Re:Punishes fans?

[Sarius64]

Not to mention the billions in free taxes from the feds, state, county, and city governments. Because billionaires have it so hard.

Re:Punishes fans?

[Anonymous Coward]

No, you can't claim that the NFL is just doing business and the customers should take it or leave it. The fact is that the NFL is the beneficiary of some rather unique laws, lobbied just for them. Take away their tax breaks. Take away their stadiums paid for by government money. Take away their excessive copyright laws. And then you can make your laissez faire claims.

Re:Punishes fans?

[Anonymous Coward]

So just stop watching it, then.

I didn't like the way a TV show I was watching from the start was going, I got angry about it, how it recycled plots and stole them from other shows, the stupid dialogue, the ridiculous way the story arc went and how the fans were being ignored, so I stopped watching it.

Took a few weeks to get over it - I realised after the first week that I was only watching it out of habit, or ritual. I couldn't think of anything else to do so I'd just turn it on. Once I got through that, I realised something:

I didn't really give a shit about it. It just wasn't that important.

I think you'll find the same, if you just give it up. You'll struggle for the first game or two, then it'll get easier, than you'll realise that it just doesn't matter.

Because it doesn't matter.

Why would anyone go willingly to the stadium?

[Opportunist]

That's the main problem you have there. At home, on the screen, you simply and plainly get the better experience. Now, I'm no expert on sports, but it doesn't take an avid watcher to notice the immediate advantage of sitting at home over going to the game.

1. Cheap drink & snacks. No need to explain. You understand it even if you don't care about sports, you have the same deal with movies.
2. Better view. Even if you have a front row seat right at the 50 yards sideline, you can't compete with a dozen cameras showing the game from every possible angle. You get an overview to see how the play unfolded, you get a closeup of the catch, hell, even the referees don't have that kind of luxury overview you get on TV.
3. No hassle getting to or from the game.
4. If the game stinks, just flip over to some movie and keep flipping back now and then to see whether it improves.
5. And of course you can do something while watching your game on TV. Personally I can't really concentrate on watching something if it's fractured like football or, worse, baseball, where moments of action are interrupted by long times of boredom for too long without getting incredibly bored.

So, tell me again, why the fuck should I go to the stadium, pay a fortune for a ticket where I'll then sit next to Bob who had onions for lunch, somewhere about a mile from the field where the players look like they are sprites of a badly done C64 game?

Re:Why would anyone go willingly to the stadium?

[Dutch Gun]

At home, on the screen, you simply and plainly get the better experience.

From a purely logical or intellectual viewpoint, you're absolutely correct. But watching sports isn't an intellectual exercise, and I don't mean that in a disparaging way.

Have you ever been to a live concert? A magic show? A broadway musical or play? How about a technical conference or lecture where you listen to someone really interesting speaking? There's nothing at those events that, objectively speaking, couldn't be better delivered to your home entertainment system in the comfort and safety in your own home.

Human beings are social creatures, and enjoy experiencing interesting and entertaining events while in the company of others. For a sports event, sharing the thrill of possible victory or defeat with thousands of other fans around you is also about sharing in a certain camaraderie. Unless you're a fan yourself and already enjoy the game, or if you really hate crowds in general, it's probably hard to understand the appeal.

I can strike up a friendly conversation with anyone wearing my home team colors and feel pretty confident that we have something in common to talk about. When my team comes back from near-certain defeat and wins the game in overtime, I'm in my seat, shouting and cheering, and giving high-fives to other like-minded fans around me whether I know them or not. The roar of the crowd is a visceral experience, adding to the excitement and helping to create an experience that's very different than watching the game from home. It feels more like you're a bit closer to participating in the game itself, because you know your home team can hear you cheering for them - not individually, of course, but certainly collectively.

Football season is almost here. This 12 is ready. Go Hawks!

Re:Why would anyone go willingly to the stadium?

[Afty0r]

You are clearly one of a VERY small minority of people who prefer to NOT socialise.

Most of the rest of us enjoy doing things in groups, it's a primal thing and appeals to our base urges, especially if we get to be all tribal about it.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Government paid for stadiums

[Firethorn]

I happen to agree with you. We're downright illogical about our sports, but given the number of government built stadiums out there that sports teams normally get dedicated access to for next to nothing, it's not out of line to expect some concessions.

Here's a thought for the NFL

[HangingChad]

If I don't get the games on terms I want, then I'll go do something else, watch movies on Netflix or play video games and your advertisers can go pound sand. What a bunch of arrogant, self-entitled bastards. Fuck you and the corporate jet you rode into town on.