NFL eases local TV blackout restrictions for upcoming season

[BLeonard]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82a406ee/article/nfl-eases-local-tv-blackout-restrictions-for-upcoming-season?module=HP11_headline_stack



Home teams now will have the option of selling 85 percent of game tickets to avoid a blackout in their local TV market. Previously, teams had to sell out games or receive an exception from the league for the game to be shown on local TV.

The change comes as league-wide attendance has declined over the past five years, the newspaper said.

Owners approved the measure at the NFL Annual Meeting in May.

Lowering the blackout threshold also is a matter of how revenue is shared, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

"It's optional if clubs want to do this and would only affect a few teams," McCarthy said in an email. "Last year only 6 percent of games were blacked out in a local market. This figure is down significantly from 15 to 20 years ago when 25 to 30 percent of games were routinely blacked out."


-Bill

[Skooby]

3 Bills home games were blacked-out last season.

[gr8slayer]

Damn, seriously?
3 Bills home games were blacked-out last season.

[YardRat]

I find it hard to believe only 15-16 games total were blacked out locally last season.

[Skooby]

Damn, seriously?

Dec. 4 vs. Tennessee, Dec. 18 vs. Miami and Dec. 24 vs. Denver (all blacked-out).

[BillyT92679]

I expect the Bills to set a 95% benchmark. If we are lucky, 90%.
Go too low and if they exceed it too much they are on the hook for a lot of revenue to be shared.

[gr8slayer]

How the hell do you not sell out a Miami game?
Dec. 4 vs. Tennessee, Dec. 18 vs. Miami and Dec. 24 vs. Denver (all blacked-out).

[Ed]

I find it hard to believe only 15-16 games total were blacked out locally last season.
There were 16 games blacked out last year. 6 in Cincinatti, 5 in Tampa, 3 in Buffalo, and 2 in San Diego.

I hate the blackout rule, but considering the Bills have the cheapest tickets in the league it's pretty lame that we're one of the only teams that can't sell all it's tickets. I know some teams like the Dolphins avoid blackouts because their tv affiliates that have the broadcasting rights can by thousands of unsold tickets at huge discounts to avoid blackouts, but if the Bills supposedly have some of the best fans in the league and the cheapest tickets, there's really no excuse to not sell out games.

[YardRat]

^ Thanks.

[Night Train]

The Bills sell the affordable lower bowl and upper deck. They struggle with the premium seats.

[Historian]

The Bills sell the affordable lower bowl and upper deck. They struggle with the premium seats.

...and the corners of the upper deck, especially in the winter.

[BillyT92679]

The Bills sell the affordable lower bowl and upper deck. They struggle with the premium seats.

Club seats don't count toward the blackout. The big problem as said before are the upper deck seats in the corners. Also the tunnel end zone seats can sell poorly. Tops Family Cornef and Rockpile seats are sold out though.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Just a few facts to consider...
Seating capacity...
Bengals 65,515
Bucs 65,657
Chargers 70,561
Bills 73,079

Average ticket price as of 2010...
Chargers $81
Bucs $74
Bengals $70
Bilss $51

Cheapest seats in the NFL as of 2010...
$25 - 4 teams
$26 - 1 team
$29 - 4 teams
etc
etc
etc
$39 - Bills

[PTI]

Bills should have it be 100% for all games before Mid Novemer, and then lower it after that. Seriously, NFL did the Bills no favors with 3 December home games after a tough stretch of games too.

[Skooby]

Bills should have it be 100% for all games before Mid Novemer, and then lower it after that. Seriously, NFL did the Bills no favors with 3 December home games after a tough stretch of games too.

We did ourselves no favors last season.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Just a few facts to consider...
Seating capacity...
Bengals 65,515
Bucs 65,657
Chargers 70,561
Bills 73,079

Average ticket price as of 2010...
Chargers $81
Bucs $74
Bengals $70
Bilss $51

Cheapest seats in the NFL as of 2010...
$25 - 4 teams
$26 - 1 team
$29 - 4 teams
etc
etc
etc
$39 - BillsBTW... $39 is tied for 16th

[thenry20]

There were 16 games blacked out last year. 6 in Cincinatti, 5 in Tampa, 3 in Buffalo, and 2 in San Diego.

I hate the blackout rule, but considering the Bills have the cheapest tickets in the league it's pretty lame that we're one of the only teams that can't sell all it's tickets. I know some teams like the Dolphins avoid blackouts because their tv affiliates that have the broadcasting rights can by thousands of unsold tickets at huge discounts to avoid blackouts, but if the Bills supposedly have some of the best fans in the league and the cheapest tickets, there's really no excuse to not sell out games.

I agree but considering we weren't winning there at the end...

Correct me if I'm mistaken but during the glory years I believe we sold out games during blizzards in December so weather can't be used as an excuse.

[Extremebillsfan247]

The Bills can still force a blackout of local television if seats are not at 100 percent capacity if they choose to. That's the bad news.

[BillyT92679]

I agree but considering we weren't winning there at the end...

Correct me if I'm mistaken but during the glory years I believe we sold out games during blizzards in December so weather can't be used as an excuse.

The team actually blacked out quite frequently during the glory years, including in 1990 and 1993. Around half of Kelly's home games throughout his career blacked out.

The stadium had a slightly bigger capacity, but the metro area also had more people too.

- - - Updated - - -

Thing is, the Bills only need to sell 60,000 seats to lift the blackout. The 13,000 club seats DO NOT COUNT.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/article932493.ece

[stuckincincy]

From the Cincinnati Enquirer, July 3 2012, by Joe Reedy:

..."The reduction option does come with a catch -- teams would have to share more revenue with the visiting clubs for each ticket sold above the base number. For tickets sold under listed capacity, the home team gets 66 percent and visiting teams 34 percent. Any tickets above capacity would be a 50/50 split.

Last season, the Bengals had a league-high six blackouts and were one of four teams to average less than 85 percent of capacity for home games. The Bengals were at a league-low 75.2 percent followed by Miami (81 percent), Washington (83.9) and Buffalo (84.8). Tampa Bay and St. Louis were at 85 percent."...