Senators Urge NFL To Shun Pay TV Exclusivity
More than a dozen senators led by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy and ranking member Arlen Specter wrote to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this week to protest the NFL Network’s exclusive coverage of football games, which precludes many fans from watching their area or local football teams. "That the NFL would choose to have fewer viewers for select games again this year is an indication of its interest in moving toward a pay television model," the lawmakers wrote.
The NFL enjoys an antitrust exemption, conferred by Congress, and members are concerned that the sports league is leveraging the success of its over-the-air broadcasts to move games to pay TV, to the detriment of NFL fans across the country. Last December, the NFL permitted the final game of the season [New England Patriots vs. New York Giants] to be broadcast on free, over-the-air TV. The game, which drew more than 34 million viewers, was a victory for the NFL and for fans, the letter said. The league has announced that it will return to restricting games to the NFL Network beginning Nov. 6.
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