USA Today: Tired of the sports streaming wars? I’ve got a bill to fix that
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, USA Today published an op-ed penned by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) on her new legislation, the For the Fans Act. The bill would stop professional sports leagues from blacking out games for fans, end the complicated web of streaming services, and cut costs for viewers across the country. The bill will ensure that local sports fans can watch their favorite sports team in one single location, for free. Baldwin’s legislation comes as the evolving digital landscape has turned watching sports into a costly subscription nightmare, with fans paying thousands of dollars because streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime buy up exclusive broadcasting rights and put big games behind their big paywalls.
USA Today: Tired of the sports streaming wars? I’ve got a bill to fix that.
Picture this: It’s a Saturday night in January, and the NFL playoffs are about to begin. My beloved Green Bay Packers are set to play the Chicago Bears as both teams prepare to write a new chapter in their storied rivalry. With a beer in hand and some snacks on the table, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites turn on their TVs for kickoff.
But a majority of Wisconsin can’t find the game on cable or YouTube TV. Panic sets in. Kickoff is moments away. They search online, only to find out the game is not actually on TV. If they want to watch, they will need to pay for an Amazon Prime subscription – owned by one of the richest guys in the world.
This isn’t unique to Packers fans. Sports fans in every part of the country know that watching your favorite team has become confusing and a hassle in recent years. Football, basketball, hockey, baseball and soccer used to be on network television or included in your cable package. Now, watching sports is a maze of streaming subscriptions, unexpected blackouts, and having to explain to your grandparents what Peacock is and where the hell to find it.
Americans are sick and tired of the confusion and sky-high costs. That’s why I’m rolling out legislation of, by and for the fans to stop blackouts and ensure that local fans can always have a free way to see their teams play.
This confusing and costly trend is only growing. The opening game of the MLB season was streamed on Netflix. The NFL sold “Thursday Night Football” to Amazon Prime and its Christmas games to Netflix. The NBA has cut deals with Amazon, Peacock and Disney while running their own streaming service, NBA League Pass.
And it’s not just the hassle. Seeing your favorite team play seems to get more expensive every season.
If you are a Wisconsinite and want to watch the Brewers, Bucks and Packers play all of their games, you better be ready to pay more than $1,000. A New York Times estimate found that watching every Yankees game alone would cost fans nearly $800. According to the Federal Communications Commission, in 2025, NFL games aired on 10 services, which could cost over $1,500 to watch all games.
This cost comes when Americans are already struggling to make ends meet. And the web of expensive services only benefits the leagues, the big streaming services and the billionaire owners of these sports teams – not the fans.
First, my For the Fans Act would ensure sports fanatics with expensive subscriptions to platforms like NBA League Pass or MLB.TV don’t face blackouts. This means if you pay for full access, you won’t be blacked out of games being played in your local media market or games that are set to air exclusively on platforms like Amazon Prime Video. You’ll be getting what you pay for: full access with no tricks and no gimmicks.
Second, my bill would guarantee free access to games for local fans, ensuring the people and communities who support their leagues can watch their teams play. Instead of allowing leagues cart blanche to sell away rights to streamers, my bill would require that leagues provide local fans with a single, free option to watch their team’s games either over streaming or broadcast. This means leagues can’t strong-arm fans who live in the same state as a team into paying for streaming subscriptions they don’t want or need.
We’re thinking big here. The For the Fans Act would apply to professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer major leagues – men’s and women’s – to make sure no fan is left behind.
No more jumping through hoops to find the game. No more blackouts on streaming services you already pay for. No more BS.
It’s time to pass my For the Fans Act.
Baldwin’s press release announcing the legislation is available here.
A one-pager on the legislation is available here.
An online version of this release is available here.
