NFL Week 15, so go fuck yourselves

[derspiess]

Did you guys hear that the FCC changed the blackout rule?  Not sure when it will take effect though.

Apparently the FCC issued an opinion or something and can't actually force the NFL to change the rule.  Some Democrat politicians are urging the NFL to change it, but even our own leftist Senator Sherrod Brown admits he can't force them to.

[Grey Fox]

They need to use the age old threat of removing the monopoly exemption.

[Valmy]

Did you guys hear that the FCC changed the blackout rule?  Not sure when it will take effect though.

Apparently the FCC issued an opinion or something and can't actually force the NFL to change the rule.  Some Democrat politicians are urging the NFL to change it, but even our own leftist Senator Sherrod Brown admits he can't force them to.

The black out rule is just another indicator about how backwards the NFL is with how they televise games.  I just do not get it, every game should be on everywhere in the country.  Because they make all their money from ticket sales and not TV!  Well they probably did back in 1961 when they passed this rule, which just shows how antiquated and outdated it is.

Having said that I don't see what the FCC has to do with that.  If the NFL wants to handicap itself, it can go right ahead.  It is not like they need the money or anything.

[Neil]

The owners see the TV money as a given, but the ticket sales aren't an insignificant part of their profits.  They're going to be very careful when we're talking about millions of dollars here.

[Admiral Yi]

I suspect the biggest incentive is they don't want to diminish the brand by televising empty stadiums.

[Neil]

Possibly.  And the stadium crowd does have an effect on team performance.  But an NFL gate is eight figures, so we're not talking about chump change either, especially when you factor in concessions.

[derspiess]

I'd say ticket revenue (plus concessions & whatnot) is the biggie for many/most owners, as most of it is not subject to revenue-sharing.

Bengals got an extension on the sellout deadline to 4:00pm today.  It sounded like they still had 3,000 to sell as of last night, so I have a feeling it won't sell out unless someone steps in & buys a bunch.

[The Minsky Moment]

Media rights brings in approx. $4.95 billion/yr.
Ticket sales: $1.36 billion

So TV is the biggest slice but the ticket revenue is nothing to sneeze at - over $40 million/team.  And for the big franchises like Dallas that can sell ultra-expensive luxury boxes, it is probably considerable more than that.

[Valmy]

That's all true.  However the blackout policy is based on the outdated and irrational fear owners had during the early days of TV that without the blackouts nobody would attend the games.  There is no evidence to support this.  They are reducing their TV audiences for no good reason.

I mean the owners freaked out when George Marshall started televising the Redskins games in the South.  HE WAS GIVING AWAY THEIR PRODUCT FOR FREE

[Admiral Yi]

I have a feeling those corporate suites don't get counted for blackout purposes.

[derspiess]

I have a feeling those corporate suites don't get counted for blackout purposes.

Correct.  Only non-premium seats.  Also, teams don't have to share any luxury suite revenue.  I think it's like a 60/40 home/away split for ticket sales.

[dps]

They need to use the age old threat of removing the monopoly exemption.

The NFL doesn't have any monopoly exemption. 

Major League Baseball is exempt from anti-trust legislation.   Other sports don't.

[Neil]

Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.