Lobbying group creates petition to end TV blackouts

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The Sports Fan Coalition, founded in 2009 to lobby for the end of television blackouts, has created a website petition for the Federal Communications Commission to review the blackout rule.While both Bay Area football teams sold out every home game last season, avoiding local TV blackouts, the Raiders have had problems with selling out in the past. This past season maked the first time since the team returned to Oakland after 13 seasons in Los Angeles that all eight home games were sold out.The website that includes the petition offers fans the opportunity to tell the FCC to end blackouts:"The Sports Blackout Rule prevents fans from seeing a home game when the local stadium doesn't sell out. Specifically, it says that if the league tells a local broadcaster to black out a game because tickets didn't sell out, fans are not allowed to watch that game any other way. The leagues think this will get people to buy more tickets, but as we fans know, ticket prices are way too high for many to afford, especially in these tough economic times. It's unethical and counterproductive."We finally have a real chance to do something about it. The FCC has agreed to reconsider the outdated, anti-fan sports blackout rule. This opportunity for sports fans to be heard at such a high level of our government is very rare, so we need to rise to the occasion!"
To add your name to the online petition, visit endblackouts.com.

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