Maybe after being inspired by NFL Hall-of-Famer Steve Largent's appearance before his subcommittee on behalf of CTIA today, Chairman Markey (D-MA) has scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday, March 5th at 9:30am which has been titled: "Competition in the Sports Programming Marketplace"
We know that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), a well-known Eagles fan, has been "all up in Roger Goodell's grill" about the NFL's ham-handed attempts to get Comcast (which is headquartered in Philadelphia) and other cable and satellite operators to carry the NFL Network on their main tier. Remember the Patriots-Giants game that was simulcast on 3 networks? That was done because the game was originally scheduled months before to air on NFL Network alone. This was before the Patriots began to do that whole undefeated season thing, and it happened that they would be breaking the 1972 Miami Dolphins' single seaon win record against New York. One problem: not everyone would get to see it, because not all cable subscribers get NFL Network.
You see, many operators keep NFL Network on a "sports tier" and only pay the NFL for customers that choose to get it, rather than pay the NFL more money per regular subscriber. The NFL does not like this, and has engaged in a rather crass advertising campaign to get customers to harass their cable companies.
Obviously, as a Patriots fan, Chairman Markey could have been bothered by this, seeing as Congress has granted the NFL limited antitrust immunity for the purpose of selling the broadcast rights to their games. This was done in 1962. Now, the NFL wants to keep more games to itself and rake in both the subscriber and advertising revenue (although I think there are more commercials for NFL Network on NFL Network itself than for anything else...).
There is also that pesky matter of Sunday Ticket. The NFL only offers it through DirecTV. However, not all consumers can recieve DirecTV signals. Could it be that Markey's Washington residence doesn't have a southern exposure and couldn't get DirecTV? Did he miss a Patriots game? Senator Specter has made a point of criticizing these exclusive programming agreements. I detect a pattern.
The hearing is next Wednesday, March 5th at 9:30am, in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. No word on a good location for tailgating.
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