Senator Tammy Baldwin takes issue with Packers Thanksgiving Eve game on Netflix
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced the "For the Fans Act" to guarantee free, over-the-air access to all nationally televised games involving local teams, responding to concerns about exclusive streaming deals.
- The Packers-Rams game on Thanksgiving Eve will be streamed exclusively on Netflix, prompting Baldwin's criticism that Wisconsin families may be forced to pay for another streaming service just to watch their local team.
- The NFL is under political scrutiny, including a Department of Justice investigation into whether it has exceeded its broadcast antitrust exemption, with calls from figures like Rupert Murdoch to reconsider the exemption.
- In Wisconsin, only viewers in Green Bay and Milwaukee will have network affiliate access to the Packers-Rams game, while the rest of the state must subscribe to Netflix, a situation that also applies to Packers games on Prime Video.
- The future of the For the Fans Act is uncertain, but debates over mandatory payments for standalone NFL game access are expected to continue.