FCC: We will look at NFL Blackout rules

Finally!

The FCC has finally, after nearly 40-years of suffering by NFL fans, agreed to look at the validity of the NFL TV Blackout rule.

The rule which essentially states that any game not sold out is not to be shown on TV in the home market or any market 70 miles or less away. Or if say, you live in a market like Cincinnati since they rarely sell out, you can't watch in Cincinnati, Dayton or Lexington,KY.

It's an antiquated rule that was created back in the late 70's, when TV was not nearly the juggernaut or integral part of most peoples lives like it is now.

However, all the FCC has done is opened the topic up for public opinion/review.

Unfortunately, we don't see the NFL capitulating on this which sort of makes it a moot point. And we say that because we don't believe the FCC is willing to take them on in a battle.

The whole reason this finally has come up for discussion is that the NFL, particularly in the smaller markets, had trouble with sellouts. And the main reason for that is the sky-rocketing cost of an NFL game ticket. There are less and less people these days who can afford the tickets and have to try and watch at home.

And that is your Catch-22.

Honestly, we don't think this will change, though it should. The NFL believes repealing this will harm their attendance...and it might. And we honestly don't think they care. The people who struggle to afford tickets are not the NFL's target audience any more. They are shooting for the upper-class, business types who have plenty of expendable income and might invest in a club seat, not Joe Smith who repairs TV's for a living and can barely afford a $65 per game ticket to go see his team play, never mind the $8 beer and $6 hot dog.

But they'll never admit it.

Is it bad I've never heard this song "Sell Out" by the Reel Big Fish?

No? Well, it fits here: