Sportsflation: The Justice Department Is Finally Coming for the NFL.
The U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into whether the NFL is engaging in anticompetitive tactics that drive up the cost for consumers of watching games. The Wall Street Journal broke the story today, and we want to be clear about what this moment means: Sports Fans Coalition has been calling for exactly this kind of scrutiny for more than 15 years. We're thrilled — and not the least bit surprised.
Sportsflation Starts With the Leagues: SFC and Public Knowledge Tell the FCC to Follow the Money
Last week, Sports Fans Coalition and Public Knowledge filed joint comments in the FCC's inquiry into sports broadcasting practices. We told the Commission what fans already know: the reason you're paying more to watch less isn't because of "market evolution" or "technological disruption." It's because professional sports leagues are running a cartel, and the government has let them get away with it for decades.
Throwing the Flag on the Cox/Charter Merger
Charter and Cox want to close a multibillion dollar mega-merger. Let’s be clear: this deal could sideline millions of fans. Both Cox and Charter have a well-documented track record of blackouts and high-stakes carriage disputes that have shut fans out of watching their favorite teams. Remember missing that key rivalry game because of a contract fight? They’re one of the culprits. Now they want to grow bigger, gain more leverage, and jack up the pressure on fans who’ve ditched cable in favor of streamingThat’s not a merger. That’s a recipe for more blackouts, more frustration, and less access for fans.
New York Sports Fans Demand Relief from Overpriced Video Packages.
NY Sports Fans, sick of paying inflated prices for a bunch of channels you don’t want, just so you can watch your Knicks, Jets, Giants, Rangers, Yankees, or Mets? You’re not alone. Millions of fans across the nation remain trapped in a game rigged by media giants who force TV providers to cram a bunch of channels no one wants into overpriced, overstuffed channel bundles, forcing you, the sports fan, to pay more than you should. And when distributors refuse to pay the ransom demanded by big media companies, the result can be a total black out, robbing sports fans –who just want to see the games– of both their money and their sports.
Senate Commerce Committee Delivers Reality Check to Sports Leagues on Sports Streaming
Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on the current status of the sports streaming market. The witnesses were representatives from the NBA, MLB, and the NHL, and John Bergmayer who is the Legal Director for Sports Fans Coalition ally Public Knowledge.
Optimum’s Blackout Betrayal: Tri-State Attorneys General Stand up for Fans
Tri-state sports fans gained three new champions this week when NY Attorney General Letitia James, along with CT Attorney General William Tong and NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin demanded that Altice USA's Optimum cable service issue automatic refunds to customers deprived of MSG Networks due to an ongoing blackout. For the last several weeks, SFC has also called for refunds to sports fans.
Fans Fight Back: Over 2,000 Speak Out Against Optimum’s MSG Blackout
Sports fans are fed up—and they’re making their voices heard. More than 2,000 fans have mobilized, sending more than 14,000 emails to lawmakers demanding an end to the outrageous blackout that has kept Knicks and Rangers games off their screens.
Optimum’s Blackout Betrayal: How Consumers are Paying the Price for Altice USA’s MSG Blackout
On January 1, 2025, the carriage agreement between MSG Networks and Altice expired, leaving more than 1 million households across the tri-state area without access to the important local sports they pay for as part of their Optimum cable subscription. That sports programming includes exclusive live coverage of major league sports teams like the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils.