Latest news with #SportsBroadcastingActof1960
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ted Cruz: NFL has been "tiptoeing up to the rule" protecting college and high school football
The Senate Commerce Committee has proceeded with a hearing on the pivot from sports broadcasting to streaming, without any involvement by the NFL. (Commissioner Roger Goodell declined an invitation to appear.) In his opening comments, Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (D-Tex.) made a pointed comment about the NFL. He said the league has been "tiptoeing up to" the line that protects college and high school football from being diluted by pro football. The line appears in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1960, which gave the NFL a broadcast antitrust exemption with one key concession — the NFL cannot broadcast games from the second weekend in September through the second weekend in December on Friday night or Saturday. 'One growing concern is that the NFL has used its special exemption in the SBA to the frustration of college and high school football schedulers," Cruz said, via a transcript provided by the Committee. "For example, the SBA explicitly excludes antitrust protection for the NFL if broadcasting a game on a Friday night or a Saturday between mid-September to mid-December. That's to protect the interests of high school and college football, and ultimately, their fans who are no doubt also followers of the NFL. 'The NFL has tiptoed up to this rule, now putting a game on streaming on Black Friday afternoon, which used to be a slot reserved for prominent college football rivalries, including in some years, Texas and Texas A&M. There are millions of sports fans who like being able to follow high school, college, and professional football without having to choose amongst them. And it's partly why Congress wrote the SBA in the manner it did." Cruz mentioned only the Black Friday game, which starts at 3:00 p.m. ET and ideally ends before the 6:00 p.m. ET witching hour, in support of his observation. The league also has started streaming games on the first Friday of September, when the first Friday coincides with the first week of the NFL season — and clearly conflicts with high school football. There has been speculation that, with the Republican party controlling the White House and Congress, the NFL may press for revisions to the SBA that would eliminate the Friday night and/or Saturday exception. Given that a prominent Republican senator seems to be firmly in favor of enforcing the limits of the current law, Cruz likely would be against allowing the NFL to broadcast games within the current window that is regarded as off-limits. The broader question is whether streaming fits within the SBA at all. That could be a question for the courts. Or it could become a subject for further legislation. Today's hearing seems to be a step toward considering something that would counter the exodus of live pro sports from free TV to pay TV. We'll continue to monitor the hearing for anything related to the NFL. You can watch it here, assuming you have consumed the appropriate amount of coffee and/or Red Bull.
NBC Sports
06-05-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Ted Cruz: NFL has been "tiptoeing up to the rule" protecting college and high school football
The Senate Commerce Committee has proceeded with a hearing on the pivot from sports broadcasting to streaming, without any involvement by the NFL. (Commissioner Roger Goodell declined an invitation to appear.) In his opening comments, Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (D-Tex.) made a pointed comment about the NFL. He said the league has been 'tiptoeing up to' the line that protects college and high school football from being diluted by pro football. The line appears in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1960, which gave the NFL a broadcast antitrust exemption with one key concession — the NFL cannot broadcast games from the second weekend in September through the second weekend in December on Friday night or Saturday. 'One growing concern is that the NFL has used its special exemption in the SBA to the frustration of college and high school football schedulers,' Cruz said, via a transcript provided by the Committee. 'For example, the SBA explicitly excludes antitrust protection for the NFL if broadcasting a game on a Friday night or a Saturday between mid-September to mid-December. That's to protect the interests of high school and college football, and ultimately, their fans who are no doubt also followers of the NFL. 'The NFL has tiptoed up to this rule, now putting a game on streaming on Black Friday afternoon, which used to be a slot reserved for prominent college football rivalries, including in some years, Texas and Texas A&M. There are millions of sports fans who like being able to follow high school, college, and professional football without having to choose amongst them. And it's partly why Congress wrote the SBA in the manner it did.' Cruz mentioned only the Black Friday game, which starts at 3:00 p.m. ET and ideally ends before the 6:00 p.m. ET witching hour, in support of his observation. The league also has started streaming games on the first Friday of September, when the first Friday coincides with the first week of the NFL season — and clearly conflicts with high school football. There has been speculation that, with the Republican party controlling the White House and Congress, the NFL may press for revisions to the SBA that would eliminate the Friday night and/or Saturday exception. Given that a prominent Republican senator seems to be firmly in favor of enforcing the limits of the current law, Cruz likely would be against allowing the NFL to broadcast games within the current window that is regarded as off-limits. The broader question is whether streaming fits within the SBA at all. That could be a question for the courts. Or it could become a subject for further legislation. Today's hearing seems to be a step toward considering something that would counter the exodus of live pro sports from free TV to pay TV. We'll continue to monitor the hearing for anything related to the NFL. You can watch it here , assuming you have consumed the appropriate amount of coffee and/or Red Bull.
NBC Sports
18-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
YouTube, WBD, Amazon show interest in Brazil game
For the second straight season, the NFL's opening weekend will feature a Friday night game in Brazil. The TV rights for the game have not yet been awarded. Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal reports that YouTube, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Amazon are interested in the game. YouTube, per Fischer, is regarded by some to be the favorite. Last year, the game streamed on Peacock. This year's deal could include a Week 17 game. The NFL is able to play on the opening Friday of the season when it lands on the first Friday in September. The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1960 exchanged a broadcast antitrust exemption for a requirement to avoid broadcasting games on Friday night or Saturday from the second weekend in September through the second weekend in December. The Chargers will host this year's game in Brazil. Its opponent has yet to be announced.
NBC Sports
05-04-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
NFL anticipates being a "target" for more antitrust claims
The NFL has a new top lawyer. The NFL expects to have some old legal problems. During the recent league meetings, owners were informed that Ted Ullyot will succeed Jeff Pash as the NFL's general counsel. And even though the business of pro football continues to boom, challenges will persist. 'We're at the top of the heap,' Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, via Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal. 'We're going to be a target in antitrust, and in a lot of other ways, we're going to need legal representation that knows how to go on the offensive and play defense to protect where we're going.' Last summer, a massive civil antitrust verdict was entered against the league over the Sunday Ticket product. The presiding judge scrapped the outcome based on perceived deficiencies in the calculation of financial losses. The issue that gave rise to the jury's decision lingers, along with other potential antitrust issues. The proliferation of streaming, for example, falls beyond the broadcast antitrust exemption contained in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1960. Ullyot, a Republican operative for whom Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh submitted a letter of recommendation, could tasked with lobbying for an adjustment to the current exemption — and possibly an elimination of the 65-year-old prohibition on broadcasting games on Friday nights and Saturdays from the second weekend in September to the second weekend in December. Regardless, the NFL continues to consist of 32 independent businesses that work together in many ways. Kraft's comments show that the league anticipates more challenges to the concerted action of its franchises in the coming years.
