Sen. Tammy Baldwin rips NFL for scheduling Thanksgiving Eve Packers game on Netflix

TL;DR

Senator Tammy Baldwin criticizes the NFL for scheduling the Thanksgiving Eve Packers game exclusively on Netflix, claiming it forces Wisconsin fans to pay for a subscription. She advocates for her 'For the Fans Act' to ensure free local broadcasts of professional sports.

Key points

Senator Tammy Baldwin criticizes NFL scheduling practices.
Packers game scheduled exclusively on Netflix for Thanksgiving Eve.
Baldwin's 'For the Fans Act' aims to ensure free local broadcasts.

Mentioned in this story

Tammy Baldwin

Green Bay PackersLos Angeles Rams

Syndication: Journal Sentinel

After introducing federal legislation last month to ensure fans are guaranteed a free, live option to watch broadcasts of professional sports teams within their home state, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is coming after the NFL for its recent scheduling practices.

On Wednesday, Sen. Baldwin issued a statement regarding the NFL’s decision to schedule her hometown Green Bay Packers for a Thanksgiving Eve game against the Los Angeles Rams exclusively on Netflix, which she claims forces “millions of Wisconsinites to pay or a subscription just to watch their home team play.”

“As the cost of just about everything continues to rise, the NFL is once again asking Wisconsinites to spend their hard-earned money on another streaming service. Enough is enough. My For the Fans Act would stop this exact scenario and prevent Wisconsin families from being forced to pay for Netflix just to watch the Packers play this Thanksgiving,” Sen. Baldwin’s statement read.

Last season, the Packers played the Chicago Bears in a playoff game on Amazon’s Prime Video. That game was made available on broadcast television to Wisconsinites residing in the Green Bay and Milwaukee areas, but not the state’s other five media markets. Sen. Baldwin’s bill ensures all fans within a given state could watch their state’s teams on free broadcast networks.

The legislation introduced by Sen. Baldwin would largely mirror how the NFL already operates regarding streaming-exclusive telecasts. Under current NFL protocols, all games that are broadcast exclusively by a streaming service or cable channel are also simulcast on a free-to-air broadcast network within the local markets of the participating teams. The For the Fans Act would apply this standard to all fans living within the state of a participating team and extend the practice to all professional sports leagues, not just the NFL. The bill would also eliminate blackouts on services like NBA League Pass and MLB.tv.

Q&A

Why is Senator Tammy Baldwin criticizing the NFL's Thanksgiving Eve game schedule?

Senator Tammy Baldwin criticizes the NFL for scheduling the Packers game on Netflix, which she believes forces Wisconsin fans to pay for a subscription to watch their home team.

What is the 'For the Fans Act' proposed by Senator Baldwin?

The 'For the Fans Act' aims to guarantee that fans have a free, live option to watch broadcasts of professional sports teams within their home state.

How does the NFL's decision affect Wisconsin fans specifically?

The NFL's decision to air the Packers game exclusively on Netflix requires Wisconsin fans to pay for a subscription, which Baldwin argues is an unfair burden on local families.