Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025
Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025 - Summary **What It Would Do** This bill would require cable and satellite TV providers to give customers refunds (rebates) when they lose access to channels or programs they're paying for due to contract disputes between the provider and content owners. For example, if a cable company and a sports network can't agree on carriage fees, and the sports channel goes dark for customers, those customers would receive a partial refund for the time they couldn't access their subscription.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would be responsible for creating the specific rules and determining how much the rebates should be. **Who It Affects** This bill primarily affects cable and satellite TV subscribers who experience programming blackouts, as well as the cable/satellite providers and content networks involved in retransmission negotiations. Sports fans would likely benefit most, since sports blackouts during contract disputes are common and high-profile. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Representative Patrick Ryan (D-NY) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025This bill requires cable and satellite broadcast providers to issue rebates to customers who are denied access to video programming included in their subscription because of programming negotiations. Specifically, where a provider’s negotiations related to the retransmission or carriage of video programming result in the provider failing to offer access to programming included in a customer’s subscription, the customer must be issued a rebate for the affected period. The Federal Communications Commission is directed to issue rules to this effect, including to establish the appropriate amount for such a rebate.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.