FCC Proposes to End Its Sports Blackout Rules

On Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it intends to get rid of its sports blackout rules, which would free cable providers to show sporting events even if local broadcasters have blacked out the games to their audiences. 

According to The Hill, “currently, the NFL negotiates with broadcasters to blackout football games as a way to encourage ticket sales. If a local broadcaster is prohibited from showing a game, FCC rules prohibit cable and satellite companies across the country from showing that game.”

As The Hill notes, though, “if the FCC were to eliminate its blackout rules, the NFL would still be able to negotiate with TV companies to have the games blacked out, but the FCC would not be involved in those agreements.”