Major broadcast station owners in the U.S. have raised concerns over Big Tech companies’ increasing acquisition of sports broadcast rights, highlighting potential risks to local TV news stations. The concern stems from the possibility of Big Tech’s dominance in broadcasting football, baseball, and other sports events, which could potentially undermine the presence of local TV news.
As reported by mint – technology, key players in the broadcasting industry have urged U.S. regulators to intervene in this trend. Major broadcast companies have emphasized the need for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address the shift of live sports to pay TV and subscription services, away from traditional free over-the-air broadcast TV.
Fox Corp and Sinclair, among others, have expressed apprehension that the increasing control of sports broadcasting by tech giants could lead to a scenario where viewers lose access to significant events like the World Series, Thanksgiving NFL games, or the Olympics. They warned that Big Tech’s focus on sports rights, often used as a loss leader, might jeopardize local broadcast journalism.
The National Association of Broadcasters highlighted the strategy of global streaming giants like Amazon Prime, Alphabet, Apple, and Netflix, using live sports programming to drive customer engagement, potentially impacting traditional broadcasters.
While the NFL emphasized that a significant portion of its games are broadcast on free TV, concerns remain regarding the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting rights and their implications on local news coverage.
Source: mint – technology