Fox, CBS Affiliates Warn FCC Against Removing Sports Rule

Fox and CBS affiliates warn that the Federal Communications Commission could be in danger of balkanizing sports programming and driving it to "increasingly expensive pay cable networks.”

With FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler signaling the FCC is likely to vote by early fall to eliminate the sports blackout rule, broadcasters are working overtime in August to try and stem that tide.

In a letter to Chairman Tom wheeler dated Aug 12, the Fox and CBS TV affiliates said eliminating the rule would hurt fans, viewers, localism, and competition. CBS Affiliate Board Chairman Michael Fiorile and Fox Affiliate Board chairman Jeff Rosser echoed NFL arguments that eliminating the rule would "likely be the first step toward the total elimination of high quality sports -- like NFL football games -- off free TV and behind the cable paywall."

They also said eliminating the rule would also result in high prices for pay TV sports fans, and the migration of more big ticket sporting events to pay, which would impact the minority, elderly and low-income populations who are disproportionately over-the-air only TV viewers.