End NFL Blackouts

The NFL blackout rule is one of the worst injustices sports fans are forced to endure, and should be ended immediately. This is how the rule works. When a game is not sold out, the home team has the right to blackout the game in the hometown team's viewing area.

The Rule is Unfair

The blackout rule is unfair for a number of reasons. NFL franchises play in stadiums that cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Just about every stadium was built wholly or partially by taxpayer dollars. Very often, state and municipal officials are pressured into these agreements by an NFL franchise which threatens to leave town if they do not get a modern state-of-the-art stadium. Many franchises charge exorbitant seat licensing fees and outlandish ticket prices that many people simply cannot afford.

When the high prices scare away the fans and produce empty seats, the franchises retaliate against the fans. They have the audacity to black out the teams from television in their home market.

The rule supposedly protects the economic interests of the NFL franchises. But, it penalizes everyone else. The television station and its advertisers lose because they must show a much less interesting game. Local businesses in the team's area, including bars and restaurants, also lose a lot of money. This results in a loss of tax revenues to the state and local governments that helped build the stadium.

Action in Pennsylvania

State Representative Brendon Boyle, a Democrat from Philadelphia has introduced legislation to do something about this unfortunate situation. The legislation would end regional television blackouts of NFL games that are not sold out when the games are played in stadiums subsidized or paid for by the taxpayers. The legislation covers the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

National Action

The blackout rule is part of the national television contract between the television stations and the National Football League. The FCC and Congress should make the blackout rule illegal along the lines of Representative Boyle's legislation.

Source: 1. Our Voice, NFL blackout rule is unfair, The Citizens' Voice, September 14, 2010.