The FCC decided to eliminate the sports blackout rule after using it for over 40 years according to CBS Sports.
The FCC board of commissioners voted unanimously to get rid of the blackout rule.
“With this decision the FCC is officially out of the sports blackout business,” FCC commissioner Ajit Pai said.
The NFL can still enforce blackouts and the current blackout rule if they want.
“The NFL has the right to enforce their current blackout rules and I suspect that they will continue to do so,” O’Reilly said.
Clearly the NFL objected to ending the policy, warning of games possibly moving away from broadcast and into “paid” television.
“I hope the NFL will seize this opportunity to repudiate blackout,” FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said.
The blackout ruled affected the NFL more than any other sport, although the league has always done a good job of avoiding blackouts and selling enough tickets.