The FCC today at just past 11:00am ET unanimously ended its 40-year-old sports blackout policy, which gave government approval to leagues to black out games in home markets when games did not sell out. The controversial policy largely affected the NFL, which used it twice last season and has yet to do so in '14. The NFL can still privately enforce blackouts. However, a source said that the vote will not affect the league's current blackout policy. FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly before the vote said, "The NFL has the right to enforce their current blackout rules and I suspect that they will continue to do so." FCC Chair Tom Wheeler said, “I hope the NFL will seize this opportunity to repudiate blackouts." The league, which opposed repeal along with the NFLPA, could not immediately be reached for comment. The NFL has previously said it is concerned that without blackouts, cable operators can bring out-of-market games into local markets. Commissioners dismissed that concern, saying the NFL could protect its own TV rights. The NFL also likes blackouts for compelling teams to sell tickets. Again, the commissioners rejected that line of defense, arguing the team could adjust ticket prices and that TV income, not gate receipts, are the primary sources of revenues for the league.
