[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

They are?

Yep.

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-va...-blackout-rule

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to consider a proposal that would end blackout rules for televised sporting events.

The rules, first adopted in 1975, prohibit cable and satellite TV providers from offering a sports event if the game is blacked out on local broadcast television stations.

Dropping the rules would have the biggest impact on the NFL, which requires broadcasters to black out games if the local team does not sell out the stadium. The rules were originally intended to encourage fans to buy tickets to see the game live.

The FCC said it will review public comments before making a final decision on the regulations.

"Changes in the sports industry in the last four decades have called into question whether the sports blackout rules remain necessary to ensure the overall availability of sports programming to the general public," the commission wrote in the notice of proposed rule-making, which was approved Wednesday.

"In this proceeding, we will determine whether the sports blackout rules have become outdated due to marketplace changes since their adoption, and whether modification or elimination of those rules is appropriate."

Even if the FCC repeals its rules, it might not end sports blackouts altogether. Leagues, TV broadcasters and cable providers could still agree to contracts restricting access to games.