Baldwin confronts sports costs with 'For the Fans' Act to make local broadcasts free
Sen. Tammy Baldwin plans to introduce the ‘For the Fans’ Act to require major sports leagues to make games freely available in local markets (via over-the-air or ad-supported streaming), expanding the current model and having the FCC define what counts as a true local market while addressing blackout restrictions for out-of-market packages. The bill would preserve leagues’ antitrust exemptions under the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act and could affect leagues like the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, WNBA, MLS, and NWSL, aiming to lower costs for fans without halting advertising or media-right revenue.