A Winning Formula: Keeping NFL Games Free and Accessible
In the changing world of television, the Sports Broadcasting Act’s (SBA) limited antitrust exemption for the NFL provides fans across the country with an essential safeguard to ensure easy and inexpensive access to America’s favorite sport while promoting growth, innovation, and countless memories for fans and families.
Picture a Sunday at your house where you are with your family. The game is on, and your kids are dressed in their favorite player’s jersey. You are the quarterback, and you are throwing touchdowns to them as they dream of being an NFL wide receiver. You are narrating historic moments in NFL history to inspire their dreams - the Immaculate Reception, The Catch, and the Music City Miracle. But today, it seems like your team is facing imminent defeat. It’s the third quarter, and they are losing 26 to 7. Yet because of the devotion of the players on your team and their no quit attitude, they have staged an epic comeback to take the lead 27 to 26 with 1:48 left in the game. Despite your team’s momentum, the rival team perfectly executes a drive using the two-minute drill and moves down the field to secure what appears to be an easy field goal with 3 seconds left to win the game. Now it feels like defeat is staring down on you, but your team not only blocks the kick, they return it for an added touchdown as time expires to ensure victory 33 to 26. While it may not sound likely, this happened in Week 3 where the Eagles beat the Rams in an unforgettable game.
The SBA makes Sundays like this possible, and we urge Congress to preserve the limited exemption to keep America’s game accessible to all. The SBA, which has been in place for over 60 years, permits the league to negotiate broadcast rights for all teams, ensuring that all NFL games are televised to the fans of the participating teams. In return for this limited exemption, the NFL broadcasts much of its content for free on CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC. In fact, 100 percent of NFL games are free over-the-air in the local markets of the competing teams, and 87 percent of games are free over-the-air in large regional markets or nationwide.
While the media industry is adapting to the demand for more streaming services, let’s not alter the law when we have a winning formula. If we do, remove the image of the Immaculate Reception from your mind. Fewer fans may see the next pass like the one Terry Bradshaw threw as Franco Harris caught the tipped ball inches above the ground and sprinted 60 yards to shock the Raiders. NBC’s broadcast of that game reached millions and is well known today 50 years later. Or forget about Joe Montana’s pass to Dwight Clark in the 1982 NFL Championship game on CBS or the lateral from Frank Wycheck to Kevin Dyson in 2000 for a last second kick return to win the game for the Titans.
These games are not just entertainment, but iconic moments in American history, which bind us together as a nation of shared values, excitement, and glory. At ACLJ Action, we defend the First Amendment and the rights of individuals to broadcast their opinions, products, and ideas. The SBA works, and it is why every child with a dream and a TV antenna can witness the next Music City Miracle.