A proposed law, the Stop Sports Blackout Act, aims to provide refunds to New Yorkers affected by TV blackouts due to contract disputes between cable companies and broadcast networks. The law, introduced by Congressman Pat Ryan and Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, requires cable distributors to offer rebates to subscribers for blackouts.
The law is in response to recent blackouts affecting Optimum customers in New York, including MSG Networks channels, which prevented fans from watching games of the Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils. Altice USA has also blacked out coverage for over 60 channels owned by Nexstar Media Group, including local news stations.
The Stop Sports Blackout Act seeks to address the issue of cable companies not providing service as promised. Congressman Ryan stated that it’s “outrageous” that fans are paying for services they can’t access and should receive a refund.
Under the proposed law, television distributors would be required by the Federal Communications Commission to provide rebates to subscribers for blackouts that occur due to carriage disputes. This could lead to refunds for New Yorkers who have been affected by these blackouts.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/cable-disputes-blocking-games-stop-162212033.html