Last week, Sen. Mike Lee (UT) raised important questions about the regulations governing sports broadcasting.
This follows a public notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking for comments on sports rights and broadcasting. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr explained, “We want to understand the marketplace today, the experience of consumers, and how the changes impact the ability of broadcast TV stations to continue delivering local news, information, and other programming.”
We’re grateful for Chairman Carr and Sen. Lee providing leadership on this important topic as consumers are increasingly frustrated by the scattering of live sports across multiple streaming platforms.
Fans want to easily watch their hometown teams and marquee national events on broadcast television, free and accessible to all. As the biggest games in football and basketball have shown, broadcast television continues to bring communities together around the moments that matter most.
But outdated government ownership rules make it harder for broadcasters to compete for sports rights and the advertising revenue that supports them. In today’s fragmented media marketplace, broadcasters must compete against global streaming companies and Big Tech platforms that face none of the same regulatory restrictions.
Local TV and radio stations remain essential pillars of their communities, delivering trusted journalism, providing life-saving emergency information and connecting neighbors through the shared experiences of news, sports and entertainment. These services are provided for free to anyone with antenna and across all screens as broadcasters innovate with new technology. In order for broadcasters to serve the next generation, they must have the scale to compete in the modern media marketplace.
Broadcasters welcome continued discussions with policymakers and industry stakeholders about how to build a media future that is productive, consumer-friendly and preserves the critical public services local stations provide. It is time to modernize outdated ownership rules so broadcasters can compete on a level playing field while continuing to serve communities across America.
Learn more at nab.org/ModernizeTheRules.
