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FCC Rejects Blackout Rules

Today the Federal Communications Commission eliminated its sport blackout rules, which prevented cable and satellite television providers from showing sporting events that were blacked out on a local station. It's common practice in the NFL to black out football games locally if the stadium didn't sell enough tickets. The ruling now removes government protections for the NFL's policies (the NFL can continue to black out local broadcasts). The FCC's decision is based on "significant changes" to the industry over the 40 years since the rules were adopted. Television has replaced ticket sales as the primary source of revenue, and the NFL is incredibly popular. They also don't think there's any chance the NFL will move its games to pay-per-view.

3 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Going Cable! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I sincerely hope that they go cable only like the NFL threatened to do. The only thing that can stop the NFL and the misplaced US hero worship is their own greed.

  2. Slashdot news for Nerds by Anon-Admin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wait, Why is there a story about football on a site that is news for nerds? Move it to the News for Jocks site.... Wait, can they read?

  3. Pay Per View by rssrss · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "They also don't think there's any chance the NFL will move its games to pay-per-view."

    ROTFLMAO.

    What are they smoking? The NFL will go PPV, ASAP.

    Book it.

    --
    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.