GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - The Green Bay Packers said they are reviewing a hearing that took place Tuesday on Capitol Hill regarding potential changes to the Sports Broadcasting Act, which has been in place since 1961.
The hearing by the House Judiciary Committee lasted more than two hours and featured a number of people upset over the growing cost of watching NFL games, many of which now require a subscription to a streaming service.
In a hearing led by Wisconsin Congressman Scott Fitzgerald, concerns were expressed on both sides of the aisle over the rising cost of watching an NFL game, which was supposed to be free under the intention of the Sports Broadcasting Act.
Rising costs for fans
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“Today, the major leagues and particularly the National Football League have used the anti-trust exemption to collectively increasingly get lucrative media distribution contracts that go far beyond the circumstances Congress contemplated in 1961,” said Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R), Wisconsin.
Fitzgerald also cited information showing that the average fan will pay up to $800 per season to view the entire NFL schedule, mostly because of a shift in the league toward streaming services. Several witnesses testified to that.
“Every single day, sports fans are getting gouged now for the opportunity of watching their favorite teams,” said Clay Travis, OutKick founder.
Packers push back
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Teams like the Green Bay Packers are pushing back. They are asking Congress to preserve key protections in the SBA, saying the law allows the NFL and its teams to negotiate national broadcast rights collectively.
The current structure supports revenue sharing that helps stabilize all teams regardless of market size.
“If the SBA goes away, what assurances are there that the structure remains in place that allows the Packers to survive. That’s the existential threat, and I think that’s what all Packers fans should be concerned about,” said Aaron Popkey, Packers Director of Public Affairs, during an interview on April 3rd.
“The question before Congress is not whether professional sports teams will continue to compete without this exemption. The question is whether consumers continue to benefit from it. The evidence increasingly suggests they do not,” said Fitzgerald.
A spokesperson for the Packers said Tuesday afternoon that team officials are reviewing what was said during the congressional hearing. The NFL commissioner was invited to testify but declined.
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