If I have to watch Asante Samuel bite on another hitch-and-go route, I'll be blacking myself out with Bicardi.

They're trying to run off the Jaguars at this point aren't they?

I'm from Jacksonville and went to Florida State University. FSU is out of the Jags' blackout range, but UF is not. I lorded that shiat over my Gator friends for four years. It was so awesome to be able to watch the Jags at home, only for Del Rio to be completely incompetent.

Speaker2Animals: Those goddam Democrats, sticking the government's nose everywhere. Oh wait:

Republican State Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey

Well, then it's OK.

Maybe he wants to watch his cousin Anthony play.

/don't know if they're actually related.

BKITU: You take public money, you serve the public interest. That's (what's supposed to be) the rule. I'm of the opinion that tying public funds that support NFL teams to a no-blackout stipulation is quite reasonable.

Definite non-fan of the GOP but I completely agree with this move. TV blackout is a f*ck job... who the hell can afford to go to an NFL game in the first place? Not to mention, if the game isn't sold out, it is probably because the team isn't very good. Dropping several Benjamins to see a team struggle while attempting to console yourself with $8 Bud Lights sounds awful.

Let your fans suffer at home until you put together something worth paying money to attend, NFL owners.

Since States are Constitutionally blocked from regulating Interstate Commerce, and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce, I expect a nasty little lawsuit if this law passes. Not sure who will win though

I understand why the NFL does blackout games though. Ticket sales/concessions is a major money source for owners. The fear is if all the games are available locally on TV, then there is less incentive to attend the game in person.

Phaeon: I'm from Jacksonville and went to Florida State University. FSU is out of the Jags' blackout range, but UF is not. I lorded that shiat over my Gator friends for four years. It was so awesome to be able to watch the Jags at home, only for Del Rio to be completely incompetent.

I'm here in Tally and I get to watch the Bucs games and that pisses off my friends down in Tampa. Jax games are nice because it keeps the Dolphins cancer off my tv.

weiserfireman: Since States are Constitutionally blocked from regulating Interstate Commerce, and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce, I expect a nasty little lawsuit if this law passes. Not sure who will win though

I understand why the NFL does blackout games though. Ticket sales/concessions is a major money source for owners. The fear is if all the games are available locally on TV, then there is less incentive to attend the game in person.

I don't really understand blackouts. If a team doesn't have enough fans to attend the games, is blocking the televising of those games really going to help?

fark blackouts.

CSB:
I moved to the greater LA area after the Raiders and Rams left, but my early experience with blackouts is from the Fox Sports Network and Comcast. When they added Fox Sports West 2 and moved my Mighty Ducks over there, I couldn't watch many of their games because Comcast didn't want to carry the channel, or some crap. I believe that was '96-'97. Then, when the Ducks made the playoffs, Fox decided to air their games on FSW, but my cable went out entirely before their first playoff game against Phoenix.
It felt like the cable guys on both sides were actively trying to hide the Ducks from me. I even remember how ESPN2 would be covering their games for the rest of the nation, and they'd cut to an ESPNews feed or something right after the handoff to the Ducks game. It was immensely frustrating.

Fast forward to...was it last year?...and again, Fox and a cable company can't reach a deal, and the subscribing fans suffer. I believe it was Cablevision in the New York area this time.

I'm not sure whether I hate this more or less than the NFL blackout policies.

[/CSB]

/Fark Fox

The thought is that if you can't watch the game on TV, maybe you'll decide to spend a few hundred dollars to go see it live. Yeah right. TV blackouts are such BS. The only blackout rules that maybe make sense are when national broadcasts are blacked out because a local channel is showing it.

Actually the Dolphins have been buying their own tickets this year to avoid the blackout.

weiserfireman: Since States are Constitutionally blocked from regulating Interstate Commerce, and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce, I expect a nasty little lawsuit if this law passes. Not sure who will win though

I understand why the NFL does blackout games though. Ticket sales/concessions is a major money source for owners. The fear is if all the games are available locally on TV, then there is less incentive to attend the game in person.

how is broadcasting a game within the state interstate commerce? They're not trying to regulate it in other states, just within their own.

weiserfireman: and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce

Local blackouts do not cross state lines.

Maybe if they didn't fleece fans and put a crappy product on the field, people would show up.

What the league really needs is an Owner Code of Conduct.

TheHappTroll: Actually the Dolphins have been buying their own tickets this year to avoid the blackout.

The Bucs did that for a couple of seasons but stopped last year. I think there has been 1 locally televised home game in the last 2 years. And before I spend a couple hundred bucs to see the hapless Bucs, I head south to the beach, watch the game from there. I get to spend a day relaxing on the beach drinking beer and catch the game. It's a win-win!

ArkAngel: weiserfireman: Since States are Constitutionally blocked from regulating Interstate Commerce, and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce, I expect a nasty little lawsuit if this law passes. Not sure who will win though

I understand why the NFL does blackout games though. Ticket sales/concessions is a major money source for owners. The fear is if all the games are available locally on TV, then there is less incentive to attend the game in person.

The NFL will win for sure. However, Florida can get around it by canceling tax breaks and refusing to build new stadiums unless they agree

I'm sure that is the 'penalty' part of the law. If they block out TV, the welfare for jocks goes away. Then the NFL will threaten to move a team to LA, and there goes a pissing match.

t3knomanser: weiserfireman: and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce

Local blackouts do not cross state lines.

Yes they do. Drew's hometown of Lexington, KY is a secondary market for the Cincinnati Bengals.

TheHappTroll: Actually the Dolphins have been buying their own tickets this year to avoid the blackout.

They have to. The Dolphins are 1-12 their last 13 home games. Anything other than a shiny new coach and QB isn't going to get people back in the stadium either.

Harv72b: ArkAngel: The NFL will win for sure. However, Florida can get around it by canceling tax breaks and refusing to build new stadiums unless they agree

And the NFL can get around that by moving 3 teams.

The point of the blackout rule (whether you agree with the end result or not) is that it prevents a scenario where a fan who would otherwise fork over the money to actually go to the game instead decides to stay home and watch on tv. For those decrying the high cost of going to a game, give me a break--there are no more than 8 regular season home games per year. Even if you figure an average expense of $150/game per person (I know there are more expensive tickets, there also less expensive ones), that's $1200/year...you're telling me someone who truly wants to see the games can't budget $100/month for it? And even if they truly can't afford that, you have the option of listening on the radio (remember that thing?) for free, regardless of ticket sales.

I doubt this bill will ever be enacted, but even if it is there's no way it stands up.

Blackouts are 1950s thinking. They in fact tend to reduce interest among casual fans, and do not increase attendance, but rather decrease it. It causes it to take longer to start selling out again once your product improves to the point that most people would be willing to watch it, too. Without TV, how will anyone know the team is any good before they've won 4 or 5 games in a row? The model that best fits televised games is to consider them as advertising.

Tampa Stadium on a good day.

Harv72b: ArkAngel: The NFL will win for sure. However, Florida can get around it by canceling tax breaks and refusing to build new stadiums unless they agree
And the NFL can get around that by moving 3 teams.
The point of the blackout rule (whether you agree with the end result or not) is that it prevents a scenario where a fan who would otherwise fork over the money to actually go to the game instead decides to stay home and watch on tv. For those decrying the high cost of going to a game, give me a break--there are no more than 8 regular season home games per year. Even if you figure an average expense of $150/game per person (I know there are more expensive tickets, there also less expensive ones), that's $1200/year...you're telling me someone who truly wants to see the games can't budget $100/month for it? And even if they truly can't afford that, you have the option of listening on the radio (remember that thing?) for free, regardless of ticket sales.
I doubt this bill will ever be enacted, but even if it is there's no way it stands up.

weiserfireman: Since States are Constitutionally blocked from regulating Interstate Commerce, and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce, I expect a nasty little lawsuit if this law passes. Not sure who will win though

I understand why the NFL does blackout games though. Ticket sales/concessions is a major money source for owners. The fear is if all the games are available locally on TV, then there is less incentive to attend the game in person.

Even more so now, with ticket prices sky-high (the average seat is well over $100), PSLs, concessions ($5 for a hot dog? $8 or more for a beer?), parking charges, the hassle of getting in and getting out, etc. If you're weighing the cost, you could probably furnish a man cave for the cost of the tickets and PSL alone. I get being there, it's fun, and you can't really duplicate the experience. But I'll take a comfy chair, way better food and beer, and being able to pause the game if I have to take a piss. So would most people, especially in this economy. That's why the blackout rule exists, and with cheaper and better TVs, it's more relevant than ever.

If this passes, the NFL will fight it to the death.

Growing up just outside of D.C. I never knew of such things. I had no less than 4 NFL games to choose from on any given Sunday. Baltimore Channels + D.C. Channels FTW! But I agree with this. So what if the Patriots play at 1pm. Why does that mean the other stations can't play another game while they are playing? Fans are going to watch and non fans are not. You are not going to lose any revenue.

Is there a reason to go to games anymore? Aside from getting away from the wife and kids on Sunday?

Blackout the game, I don't care. I'll just stream the game and hook it up to my flatscreen.

There's no way I'm going to pay over 100 dollars plus an extra arm and a leg for food and drinks to watch a team shoot itself in the foot every sunday.

Count Dyscalculia: Growing up just outside of D.C. I never knew of such things. I had no less than 4 NFL games to choose from on any given Sunday. Baltimore Channels + D.C. Channels FTW! But I agree with this. So what if the Patriots play at 1pm. Why does that mean the other stations can't play another game while they are playing? Fans are going to watch and non fans are not. You are not going to lose any revenue.

Try being a Ravens fan just outside DC. If they play at the same time as the Foreskins (when the latter have not sold out the home game), I get infomercials.

forgotmydamnusername: Blackouts are 1950s thinking. They in fact tend to reduce interest among casual fans, and do not increase attendance, but rather decrease it. It causes it to take longer to start selling out again once your product improves to the point that most people would be willing to watch it, too. Without TV, how will anyone know the team is any good before they've won 4 or 5 games in a row? The model that best fits televised games is to consider them as advertising.

Plus, think about it this way-

There are about 5.6 million people in the DC Metropolitan area (the 7th largest metropolitan area in the US). That's enough people to fill the stadium (capacity ~92,000) almost 61 times over.

So the best the Fighting Snyders can hope to do is sell 1 ticket to every 60 people in the metro area. Meaning 59 people of every 60 - AT LEAST - will have to suffer through the blackout. (The math assumes everyone likes football.)

It's a stupid thing, demographically.

They don't seem to have a problem selling out Lambeau Field for the last 40 years, even when the team was crappy and demographics meant "only" 1 of every 20 people had to buy a ticket (ass-pulled number, but it's sure lower than 1/60); yet they still did it.

And yeah, an INCREDIBLY assy thing to do to the citizens who will be paying for your $600M monument to merriment long after you've moved the team to a new city and facility for THEIR citizens to pay $1B for (inflation's a biatch).

It's great business for the local bars with them satellite thingamabobs. I can watch up to 8 games at once and have a cute little waitress bring me my grog and a sammich.

Dr Dreidel: Count Dyscalculia: Growing up just outside of D.C. I never knew of such things. I had no less than 4 NFL games to choose from on any given Sunday. Baltimore Channels + D.C. Channels FTW! But I agree with this. So what if the Patriots play at 1pm. Why does that mean the other stations can't play another game while they are playing? Fans are going to watch and non fans are not. You are not going to lose any revenue.

Try being a Ravens fan just outside DC. If they play at the same time as the Foreskins (when the latter have not sold out the home game), I get infomercials.

forgotmydamnusername: Blackouts are 1950s thinking. They in fact tend to reduce interest among casual fans, and do not increase attendance, but rather decrease it. It causes it to take longer to start selling out again once your product improves to the point that most people would be willing to watch it, too. Without TV, how will anyone know the team is any good before they've won 4 or 5 games in a row? The model that best fits televised games is to consider them as advertising.

Plus, think about it this way-

There are about 5.6 million people in the DC Metropolitan area (the 7th largest metropolitan area in the US). That's enough people to fill the stadium (capacity ~92,000) almost 61 times over.

So the best the Fighting Snyders can hope to do is sell 1 ticket to every 60 people in the metro area. Meaning 59 people of every 60 - AT LEAST - will have to suffer through the blackout. (The math assumes everyone likes football.)

It's a stupid thing, demographically.

They don't seem to have a problem selling out Lambeau Field for the last 40 years, even when the team was crappy and demographics meant "only" 1 of every 20 people had to buy a ticket (ass-pulled number, but it's sure lower than 1/60); yet they still did it.

And yeah, an INCREDIBLY assy thing to do to the citizens who will be paying for your $600M monument to merriment long after you've moved the team to a new city and facility for THEIR citizens to pay $1B for (inflation's a biatch).

Didn't they play some of their home games in Milwaukee?

Yeah, this would end well.

I hope you Floridians enjoyed the NFL. If this goes through the legislature the three teams will be hopping the next Mayflower convoy out of the state.

the nfl broadcast rules are left over from the dark ages. there should be no black-outs. and the whole no competing games thing is also really stupid.

/and seriously they take billions in public money, there should be no blackouts.

Dr Dreidel: Try being a Ravens fan just outside DC. If they play at the same time as the Foreskins (when the latter have not sold out the home game), I get infomercials.

When has a Redskins home game been blacked out?

A Fark Handle: the nfl broadcast rules are left over from the dark ages. there should be no black-outs. and the whole no competing games thing is also really stupid.

/and seriously they take billions in public money, there should be no blackouts.

More scary. Why go to the games at all when you have 60 inch HD TV? I find the viewing experience at home preferable to the hours an hours of traffic and tailgating.

weiserfireman: Since States are Constitutionally blocked from regulating Interstate Commerce, and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce, I expect a nasty little lawsuit if this law passes. Not sure who will win though

I understand why the NFL does blackout games though. Ticket sales/concessions is a major money source for owners. The fear is if all the games are available locally on TV, then there is less incentive to attend the game in person.

A few items:

1) An in-state television station broadcasting an in-state performed game involving an in-state company isn't interstate commerce.

2) Sales and concessions are not a major money source for owners. TV is. The NFL gets around $20 billion a year to broadcast TV. If every team sold 80,000 tickets at $100 a piece to each of the 10 home games a year, that's a total of around $2.5 billion a year. So, at best, you're talking around 10% revenue.

12349876: t3knomanser: weiserfireman: and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce

Local blackouts do not cross state lines.

Yes they do. Drew's hometown of Lexington, KY is a secondary market for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Neither Cincinnati nor Lexington are in Florida.

dripping with sarcasm: It's great business for the local bars with them satellite thingamabobs. I can watch up to 8 games at once and have a cute little waitress bring me my grog and a sammich.

Most of the time, they're blacked out there as well unless the bar is doing some finagling with their satellite contract (lying and saying, for instance that they live in another state).

meanmutton: weiserfireman: Since States are Constitutionally blocked from regulating Interstate Commerce, and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce, I expect a nasty little lawsuit if this law passes. Not sure who will win though

I understand why the NFL does blackout games though. Ticket sales/concessions is a major money source for owners. The fear is if all the games are available locally on TV, then there is less incentive to attend the game in person.

A few items:

1) An in-state television station broadcasting an in-state performed game involving an in-state company isn't interstate commerce.

2) Sales and concessions are not a major money source for owners. TV is. The NFL gets around $20 billion a year to broadcast TV. If every team sold 80,000 tickets at $100 a piece to each of the 10 home games a year, that's a total of around $2.5 billion a year. So, at best, you're talking around 10% revenue.

1) Broadcast rights for NFL games are negotiated with the NFL, which last time I checked, was not headquartered in Florida. So yeah, its Interstate Commerce.
2) Money from Ticket sales and concessions stays with the local team. Using your numbers, for 8 home games, that is $640,000,000 for the team. Divide the TV revenue contract by 32 teams and you come up with $625,000,000 per team per year. So yeah, Tickets and Concessions is about 50% of a teams revenue stream, not 10%. It is the most variable part of their revenue stream.

I agree that Blackout rules probably hurt them in the long run, but they aren't unique in sports. Most professional sports, and even some colleges have local blackout rules to try and shore up ticket revenues.

merkey88: Dr Dreidel: Try being a Ravens fan just outside DC. If they play at the same time as the Foreskins (when the latter have not sold out the home game), I get infomercials.

When has a Redskins home game been blacked out?

I may have been a bit cavalier with my wording, but read again.

RAVENS games get blacked out where I live because the Skins suck so much they can't sell out a home game. I live nearer DC, where Baltimore is a secondary market.

weiserfireman: Since States are Constitutionally blocked from regulating Interstate Commerce, and the broadcasting of NFL games is Interstate commerce, I expect a nasty little lawsuit if this law passes. Not sure who will win though

I understand why the NFL does blackout games though. Ticket sales/concessions is a major money source for owners. The fear is if all the games are available locally on TV, then there is less incentive to attend the game in person.

They used to use the TV as a free 4 hour long advertisement now they just want to punish those of us who don't want to deal with crowds. Blacking out games seems kind of stupid since all it does is make the locals not give a shiat about the team, put an exciting team on the field and the crowds will come.

Can't you just pay for the NFL Sunday ticket and get around the blackouts?

I just streamed the one Packer game they were not showing in Ottawa (early in the season). My brother sprung for the sunday ticket, but the NFL can fark themselves if they think I'm paying them more because they don't want to show me the game I want to see.