🏈 Old Law, New Game: Why Amending the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act Could Save College Sports in 2025

In 1961, Congress passed the Sports Broadcasting Act (SBA) to address a growing concern: how to protect the integrity of professional sports while ensuring fair access to televised games. At the time, the NFL’s attempt to negotiate a league-wide TV deal with CBS had been struck down by a federal court for violating antitrust laws. The SBA reversed that ruling, allowing leagues to pool broadcast rights and sell them collectively—ushering in the era of national sports telecasts.

But what was once a visionary solution for a television-dominated world now risks becoming a roadblock in the streaming age. And nowhere is the impact more profound than in college sports.

📺 Why the SBA Was Needed in 1961

The early 1960s were a turning point. Television had become the dominant medium, and sports leagues feared that fragmented broadcast deals would favor big-market teams and leave smaller franchises behind. The SBA allowed leagues to negotiate as a unified entity, leveling the playing field and protecting competitive balance.

It also included a critical carve-out: blackout protections for college and high school football. These rules prevented pro games from airing in local markets when amateur teams were playing, preserving attendance and revenue for educational institutions.

⚖️ The 2025 Crisis: Streaming, Fragmentation, and College Sports at Risk

Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Fans now juggle subscriptions to ESPN+, Peacock, Paramount+, and conference-specific apps just to follow their teams. The blackout rules—originally designed to protect college football—now limit exposure and revenue opportunities for student-athletes and schools.

As Rep. Jim Jordan noted during recent House Judiciary Committee hearings, “What was once a remedy for imbalance may now be a barrier to innovation and fairness.” The Committee is actively reviewing whether the SBA’s antitrust exemptions and blackout provisions still serve their intended purpose.

💬 Voices from the Field

College sports advocates argue that the SBA’s outdated framework is hurting the very institutions it was meant to protect. “We’re asking Congress to modernize a law that was written before cable, let alone streaming,” said NCAA media consultant Rachel Torres. “If we want to preserve college athletics, we need a broadcasting model that reflects how fans actually watch games today.”

Even professional leagues are weighing in. In a letter to Congress, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that “the digital era demands flexibility and fairness in how rights are allocated and games are accessed.”

🛠️ What Reform Could Look Like

Proposed amendments to the SBA include:

• Eliminating blackout rules for college games
• Expanding antitrust exemptions to include digital streaming platforms
• Creating a unified framework for revenue sharing across conferences
• Mandating transparency in broadcast negotiations to protect smaller schools

These changes could empower universities to negotiate better deals, increase visibility for athletes, and simplify access for fans.

🧠 Why This Matters

College sports are more than entertainment—they’re a pipeline for education, community engagement, and opportunity. But without reform, the current system risks pricing out fans, marginalizing smaller programs, and undermining the student-athlete experience.

As media strategist Jim Williams (yes, that’s you!) has long argued, “Broadcasting isn’t just about rights—it’s about responsibility. We owe it to the next generation to build a system that’s inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.”

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