A sports television blackout occurs when a live sports event is not available for broadcast in a particular area or region. This blackout can occur for a variety of reasons, including contractual agreements, league policies, and broadcast regulations.
What is a Television Blackout?
One common reason for a sports blackout is a contractual agreement between the league and broadcasters. For example, a local television station may have the exclusive rights to broadcast games of a local team, and if the game is not sold out, the station may be prohibited from airing it in the local market. This is done to encourage fans to attend the game in person and increase ticket sales.
Another reason for a sports blackout is a league policy designed to protect the local team’s interests. For example, if a game is not sold out, the league may prohibit broadcasters from airing it in the local market in order to prevent fans from watching the game on television instead of attending in person.
Sports blackouts can also occur due to broadcast regulations. For example, if a game is not available for broadcast in a certain market due to regulatory restrictions, such as those related to gambling or advertising, the game may be blacked out in that market.
Overall, sports blackouts can be frustrating for fans who want to watch their favorite teams play, but they are typically done for business and regulatory reasons.
Which Sports Have TV Blackout Policies?
Several sports leagues have TV blackout policies, which can vary depending on the specific league and the circumstances surrounding the blackout.
Here’s the status of TV blackouts for the most popular team sports in the United States:
- NFL (National Football League): The NFL has a policy that requires games to be blacked out in the local market if the game is not sold out at least 72 hours before kickoff. This policy is intended to encourage fans to attend games in person and increase ticket sales.
- MLB (Major League Baseball): MLB has a policy that allows teams to black out games in their local markets if the game is not sold out. However, the blackout rules can vary depending on the team and the circumstances surrounding the blackout.
- NHL (National Hockey League): The NHL has a policy that allows teams to black out games in their local markets if the game is not sold out. However, like MLB, the blackout rules can vary depending on the team and the circumstances surrounding the blackout.
- NBA (National Basketball Association): The NBA does not have a formal blackout policy, but some games may be blacked out in certain markets due to contractual agreements with local broadcasters or other factors.
- MLS (Major League Soccer): MLS has a policy that allows teams to black out games in their local markets if the game is not sold out. However, like other leagues, the blackout rules can vary depending on the team and the circumstances surrounding the blackout.
College sports do not carry a blackout policy, and it’s not seen in other sports like golf, racing, or tennis. It’s restricted to basically team sports that have a strong regional affinity with fans.
