The answer to 99 questions out of 100 is "money". The NFL understands this well, and that is why three very successful teams are scrambling to sell tickets to their home play-off games so there will not be a television blackout in their local markets this weekend.
For shame.
The Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals each had improbable regular seasons – the Bengals went 8-0 at home this year. Yet each club could be subjected to a blackout. Historically, teams must sell all tickets by noon two days before kick-off, but these three failed to do so. They have been given an extension, however.
A blacked-out game would send local fans into a frenzy. But instead of fans throwing a shoe at their television or shelling out an average of US$156 (Dh573) for a ticket, the anger should be directed at the league.
The blackout rule is a decades-old policy that prevents television outlets in the team's home market from airing the game if not all tickets are sold. The rule started when the NFL was in its infancy and just getting people into the stands was a stretch.
A league play-off game has not been blacked out since 2002, yet the NFL last month said it would strongly oppose a proposal by US regulators to eliminate the blackout rule.
Three regular-season games were blacked out locally in 2013, but where is a Jim Mora rant when you need one?
"Play-offs? We're talking about the play-offs?"
agray@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at SprtNationalUAE
Remote switch on TV blackouts by NFL league is not funny
A play-off game has not been blacked out since 2002 but the NFL are strongly opposing a proposal by US regulation to eliminate the silly rule.
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