FEDERALhearing transcript

1972 Congressional Hearings on Professional Sports TV Blackouts

Original title: Blackout of sporting events on TV. Hearings, Ninety-second Congress, second session, on S. 4007, to amend the Act providing an exemption from the antitrust laws with respect to agreements between persons engaging in certain professional sports for the purpose of certain television contracts in order to terminate such exemption for television blackouts of games within the home territory of a club on a day when such club is playing a game at home; S. 4010, to amend the Act providing an exemption from the Antitrust Laws with respect to agreements between persons engaging in certain professional sports for the purpose of certain television contracts in order to terminate such exemption when a home game is sold out. October 3, 4, and 5, 1972.

July 14, 2026

antitrust sports television broadcasting consumer rights

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

The hearings addressed whether professional sports leagues should retain s that allow them to prevent local television stations from airing home games, directly impacting whether local fans can watch their teams on television.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Professional sports leagues

The proposed legislation would remove their legal exemption to enforce television blackouts for home games.

Local television viewers

The legislation would determine whether they are permitted to watch home games on local television broadcasts.

What changed

Last recorded activity July 14, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document summarizes congressional hearings held in October 1972 regarding two proposed bills, S. 4007 and S. 4010, which aimed to limit the ability of professional sports leagues to black out local television broadcasts of home games.

Key Facts

The hearings took place on October 3, 4, and 5, 1972.
S. 4007 proposed ending the antitrust exemption for television blackouts of games within a club's home territory on days the club plays at home.
S. 4010 proposed ending the antitrust exemption for television blackouts specifically when a home game is sold out.
The bills sought to amend existing laws that grant professional sports leagues exemptions from antitrust regulations regarding television contracts.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of these hearings?

The hearings were held to discuss two bills aimed at restricting the ability of professional sports leagues to black out local television broadcasts of home games.

What is an antitrust exemption in this context?

It is a legal provision that allows professional sports leagues to enter into television contracts that would otherwise be restricted by , specifically regarding the practice of blacking out local games.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Related Legislation

hearing_transcript