FCC sacks blackouts but NFL can still enforce

The FCC will no longer enforce its blackout rule. (USATSI)

After nearly 40 years of allowing an arcane rule to exist, the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday finally eliminated the sports blackout rule via a unanimous vote from its board of commissioners.

"With this decision the FCC is officially out of the sports blackout business," FCC commissioner Ajit Pai said.

An important distinction: the NFL can still choose to enforce blackouts as the rule is currently written, and FCC commissioner Michael O'Reilly believes the league will continue to enforce it.

"The NFL has the right to enforce their current blackout rules and I suspect that they will continue to do so," O'Reilly said.

Clearly the NFL objected to ending the policy, warning that games could possibly move away from broadcast and into "paid" television.

Leagues have hid behind the FCC rule, chairman Wheeler said. "I hope the NFL will seize this oppt to repudiate blackout."

— daniel kaplan (@dkaplanSBJ) September 30, 2014

The blackout rule affected the NFL more than any other sport, though football does pretty good business.

While the league is not suffering from a serious issue with blackouts, we'll see how they handle it moving forward.

NFL Hot News

Bills bench QB E.J. Manuel for Kyle Orton



Bills head coach Doug Marrone announced Monday that Kyle Orton will be the team's starting quarterback going forward. Marrone said he came to the decision to bench 2013 first-round pick E.J. Manuel in favor of the 31-year-old Orton this afternoon. According to Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News, Marrone didn't declare Orton will be the starter for the rest of the season but "indicates it's not a one-week move either." Marrone did say Manuel "has got a tough road ahead of him."



This move was all but assured once Buffalo handed Orton, a quarterback who was heavily considering retirement, an $11 million, two-year contract right before the season started. Manuel expedited the change with his usual brand of bad quarterbacking. He was competent when asked to throw the ball only 20-25 times per game. But once the Bills fell behind in their past two games, Manuel fell apart. In Weeks 3 and 4 combined, Manuel completed 53 percent of his passes, averaged 5.6 yards per throw and took five sacks.Perhaps the Bills are pulling the plug on Manuel a little early -- he has played in just 14 career games. But at 2-2 and in a division without a clear power, the Bills think they can win now and that Orton gives them the best opportunity to do so. Maybe, but Orton is far from an ideal fantasy option. This move has greater fantasy impact on the likes of Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods, who will both benefit without Manuel's horrid accuracy. Orton's aim isn't much better, but at least it is better.The Bills, with Orton under center, will go on the road to face the Lions in Week 5. Even with the new quarterback, this offense is still one to target if you're into streaming defenses.