Discussion · Senate
Jerry Moran Republican
“I want to pass this bill to help fans watch college sports on free TV. It protects a new college sports group from antitrust laws only when selling broadcast rights to regular TV networks, not to exclusive streaming services. I want colleges to keep games free and easy for everyone to watch.”
“Madam President, as the Senate considers the Protect College Sports Act, I believe we must clarify its proposed application of the Sports Broadcasting Act to a new collegiate collective entity. It is important to make clear that the Protect College Sports Act would expand the Sports Broadcasting Act only with respect to the entities which may be covered by the antitrust exemption in selling telecast rights--in this case, the new covered intercollegiate entity. The legislation expands only the eligible entities selling telecast rights under the SBA, not the scope of the exemption itself. The bill would not modify the scope of the underlying Sports Broadcasting Act’s allowance of the collective sale or transfer of media rights to entities beyond those that will make games available via ``sponsored telecasting.’’ As a result, the new collegiate entity is only covered by the antitrust exemption in negotiations with media partners that provide games to the public via broadcast, rather than exclusive streaming arrangements. The bill would not modify the scope of activities protected by the underlying SBA and nothing in title II of the legislation should be construed as doing so. The intent of this legislation is to increase fans’ access to college sports on free, over-the-air broadcasting. I encourage universities and conferences to work with local and national broadcasters to make certain college sports are accessible to all.”
Madam President, as the Senate considers the Protect College Sports Act, I believe we must clarify its proposed application of the Sports Broadcasting Act to a new collegiate collective entity. It is important to make clear that the Protect College Sports Act would expand the Sports Broadcasting Act only with respect to the entities which may be covered by the antitrust exemption in selling telecast rights--in this case, the new covered intercollegiate entity. The legislation expands only the eligible entities selling telecast rights under the SBA, not the scope of the exemption itself. The bill would not modify the scope of the underlying Sports Broadcasting Act’s allowance of the collective sale or transfer of media rights to entities beyond those that will make games available via ``sponsored telecasting.’’ As a result, the new collegiate entity is only covered by the antitrust exemption in negotiations with media partners that provide games to the public via broadcast, rather than exclusive streaming arrangements. The bill would not modify the scope of activities protected by the underlying SBA and nothing in title II of the legislation should be construed as doing so. The intent of this legislation is to increase fans’ access to college sports on free, over-the-air broadcasting. I encourage universities and conferences to work with local and national broadcasters to make certain college sports are accessible to all.