Liberty Media Chair Malone Says Sports Programming Costs Are Out Of Control

Liberty Media Chair John Malone is among the “growing list of people who think sports programming costs are out of control,” according to Joe Flint of the L.A. TIMES. Malone said, “We’ve got runaway sports rights, runaway sports salaries and what is essentially a high tax on a lot of households that don’t have a lot of interest in sports. The consumer is really getting squeezed, as is the cable operator." Flint notes by some industry estimates, sports programming “now accounts for about half of the typical pay-television bill.” Malone said, "The control of sports rights by a few entities has almost created a redistribution of wealth." Malone thinks that it “might be time for the Federal Communications Commission or Congress to step in.” He said, “The only way it is going to change in the short run is for government to intervene” (L.A. TIMES, 11/20).