The Sports Fans Coalition remains determined to force the FCC’s hand to stand firm in the face of another court case filed by Comcast.  Following the FCC’s 4-1 vote to eliminate the anticompetitive practice of restricting competitors from airing sports programming, Comcast quickly filed an appeal in the name of DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket, ignoring the crucial element of the ruling which sited local abuses on sports fans, consumers which prevents many from accessing sports games on TV. 

The SFC petitioned the FCC effectively to come down hard on this behemoth cable company which owns sports stadiums,  TV networks, and multiple sports franchises seeking to acquire a considerable mass of programming under the umbrella of NBC Universal.  The FCC vote was strategically made prior to the review of the proposed merger by the Department of Justice and the forthcoming Senate anti-trust subommittee hearing to be held on February 4th in which executives from both Comcast and NBC will testify on the proposed merger.

Since local sports exclusives have been ruled illegal by the FCC, Comcast has fought to keep its stranglehold over sports fans in Philadelphia, Portland, and if we don’t do something about it, every major market in the country.  If Comcast triumphs over the FCC in its appeal, not only will it have solidified its headlock on some select markets and won the case for Cablevision in New York City and Cox in San Diego, but it will be on the brink of dictatorship-style rule over sports fans in 11 major TV markets including Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami, Denver, Hartford and Fresno.

While sports fans would love to be consoled recognizing that the DOJ will likely be tough on Comcast and NBC Universal in its review of the merger bid, the Sports Fans Coalition will do no such thing.  In fact, the SFC’s tact is to be vigilant from the outset recognizing the Comcast will stop at nothing to ignore the FCC keeping fans from their games unless Comcast’s price is paid. 

Don’t let Comcast get away with this. 

Sign the Petition demanding to know WHERE ARE MY GAMES?