McCain Introduces Bill to End Sports Blackouts for Games in Taxpayer-Funded Stadiums

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced legislation to end sports blackouts for any games held in stadiums that are in part funded by taxpayer dollars. 

The former Republican presidential nominee introduced the Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013 on Thursday.

The goal of the legislation is two-pronged. First, the Senator hopes to enhance consumer choice options by allowing the customer to choose specific channels as opposed to pre-bundled packages. Second, he hopes to ensure that the taxpayer will have the right to view games on television played in stadiums that are funded by taxpayer dollars. The sports blackout rule would stand for games held in privately-funded stadiums. 

“When the venue in which these sporting events take place has been the beneficiary of taxpayer funding,” McCain said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “It is unconscionable to deny those taxpayers who paid for it the ability to watch the games on television when they would otherwise be available.”