NFL Opposes Proposal to End Sports Blackout Rule for Pay TV
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The National Football League said it “will strongly oppose” a proposal by U.S. regulators to eliminate the rule that keeps cable providers and satellite broadcasters from showing sports events lacking sellout crowds.
The blackout rule, crafted almost 40 years ago to promote live attendance, may no longer be necessary to ensure the public can see games, the Federal Communications Commission said yesterday in an e-mailed notice. Eliminating the rule would require the agency’s vote after a public comment period.