State Broadcasters Urge Congress to Revisit Sports Act

All 50 state broadcasters' associations, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico, want lawmakers to examine the 1961 law in light of streaming.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Television

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single steel broadcast antenna mast on a grassy ridge, with distant farm fields under a pale sky, evoking free-to-air television. — All 50 state broadcasters' associations, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico, asked Congress to revisit the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act as live sports move behind streaming paywalls. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should Congress require live sports to stay available on free over-the-air TV?

All 50 state broadcasters' associations, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico unanimously adopted a resolution urging Congress to revisit the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. The resolution seeks to safeguard broad public access to live sport on free-to-air television as rights increasingly move behind streaming paywalls.

Why it matters

The resolution argues lawmakers in 1961 could not have anticipated today's fragmented streaming landscape, and asks Congress to determine whether modern distribution practices are covered by the act. The shift disproportionately affects rural communities, older viewers, and lower-income families who rely on local broadcast television.

The resolution was adopted unanimously by all 50 state broadcasters' associations, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, measured against a statute enacted in 1961. It remains unclear whether Congress will take up the question or how the 1961 law applies to today's streaming distribution.

The players

National Association of Broadcasters

The NAB is the trade association representing the American broadcasting industry, which has long advocated for free over-the-air sports access.

The details

The resolution was adopted by all 50 state broadcasters' associations, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, and urges Congress to determine whether modern distribution practices are covered by the Sports Broadcasting Act. The National Association of Broadcasters welcomed the resolution and said it will continue engaging policymakers on broadcasting's role as a free, local, and trusted platform for live sport.

1961: The Sports Broadcasting Act is enacted.
November 5, 2026: State broadcasters adopt the resolution urging Congress action.

Legacy Framework

The Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 allowed leagues to pool broadcast rights collectively, a framework now tested as live games migrate to streaming services. The resolution asks Congress to decide whether that statute covers distribution models its drafters could not have foreseen.

If Congress acts, fans who currently watch games over the air without a subscription could keep that access. Without action, more live sport may require paid streaming subscriptions and broadband to watch.

The takeaway

Live sport access over free television depends on how Congress interprets a 1961 law, so viewers who rely on antenna broadcasts should track any federal review. The question is whether public access to games keeps pace with where they are being shown.