Our Take

The FCC’s sports blackout rules, which prevent pay TV operators from airing games that are blacked out on local TV stations due to not being sold out, are “obsolete” and “have to go,” said FCC chairman Tom Wheeler in a USA Today op/ed on Tuesday. Here’s his objection to what he terms an “anti-fan practice.” (Go here for the op/ed.)

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler: “In 1975, the commission enacted rules barring cable from airing a game that has been blacked out on the local television station because it was not sold out – strengthening the NFL’s blackout policy. Today, the rules make no sense at all. That’s why today, I am sending to my fellow commissioners a proposal to get rid of the FCC’s blackout rule once and for all.

Read More at FCC

The Daily

Subscribe
Thursday–May 28

Public Interest, ABC In FCC Crossfire

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez offered some foreshadowing last week that a notice on the public interest standard was coming.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Jun 4
2026 Cynopsis Sports Awards Presented in partnership with Cablefax
Jul 10
2026 Top Ops AwardsTop Ops Awards Entry Deadline
Nov 3
2026 Most Powerful Women Awards2026 Most Powerful Women Awards
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact us at marketing@cynopsis.com, for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.