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- Title
No Trust at the NFL: League's Network Passes Rule of Reason Analysis.
- Authors
LaRocca, James J.
- Abstract
Last Thanksgiving, the NFL Network, a new cable television channel owned and operated by the National Football League, exclusively televised its first of eight football games for the 2006-07 season. Unfortunately, thousands missed the premiere because three of the country's largest cable operators declined deals with the NFL. While the NFL is willing to provide its network to the cable operators (for a fee), the league insists that each operator offer the station to its customers as part of its basic cable package. The NFL believes that once thousands of disappointed people realize they cannot access the games it exclusively carries on its network, they will pressure their cable providers to carry the station, creating significant advertising revenue for the league. The NFL's plan has sparked a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine possible antitrust violations. This Article defends the NFL's actions from an antitrust perspective. It argues that the NFL's plan passes a "full-blown" rule of reason test since the plan is pro-competitive: it provides the public with broader access to games, at no additional costs, and is necessary for the network's survival.
- Subjects
ACCESS to cable television; ANTITRUST violations; FOOTBALL playoffs; RULE of reason; JUDICIAL process; NATIONAL Football League
- Publication
UCLA Entertainment Law Review, 2008, Vol 15, Issue 1, p87
- ISSN
1073-2896
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5070/lr8151027107