[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 47, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 47CFR76.127]



[Page 596-597]

 

                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION

 

                    CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

                         COMMISSION (CONTINUED)

 

PART 76_MULTICHANNEL VIDEO AND CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE--Table of Contents

 

Subpart F_Network Non-duplication Protection, Syndicated Exclusivity and 

                             Sports Blackout

 

Sec. 76.127  Satellite sports blackout.



    (a) Upon the request of the holder of the broadcast rights to a 

sports event, or its agent, no satellite carrier shall retransmit to 

subscribers within the area comprising the specified zone a ``nationally 

distributed superstation'' or ``network station'' carrying the live 

television broadcast of a sports event if the event is not available 

live on a television broadcast station meeting the criteria specified in 

Sec. 76.128. For purposes of this section, if there is no television 

station licensed to the community in which the sports event is taking 

place, the applicable specified zone shall be that of the television 

station licensed to the community with which the sports event or team is 

identified, or, if the event or local team is not identified with any 

particular community, the nearest community to which a television 

station is licensed.

    (b) Notification of the programming to be deleted pursuant to this 

Section shall include the following information:

    (1) The name and address of the party requesting the program 

deletion;

    (2) The date, time and expected duration of the sports event the 

television broadcast of which is to be deleted;

    (3) The call letters of the nationally distributed superstation or 

network station(s) from which the deletion is to be made;

    (4) The U.S. postal zip codes that encompass the specified zone.

    (c) Notifications given pursuant to this section must be received by 

the satellite carrier:

    (1) With respect to regularly scheduled events, within forty-eight 

(48) hours after the time of the telecast to be deleted is known; or, 

for events that comprise a season or pre-season period, fifteen (15) 

days prior to the first event of the season or pre-season, respectively; 

and no later than the Monday preceding the calendar week (Sunday-

Saturday) during which the program deletion is to be made.

    (2) As to events not regularly scheduled and revisions of notices 

previously submitted, within twenty-four (24) hours after the time of 

the telecast to be deleted is known, but in any event no later than 

twenty-four (24) hours from the time the subject telecast is to take 

place.

    (d) A satellite carrier is not required to delete a sports event 

from an individual subscriber who is located outside the specified zone, 

notwithstanding that the subscriber lives within a zip code provided by 

the holder of the broadcast rights pursuant to paragraph (b) of this 

section.



[[Page 597]]



    (e) A satellite carrier is not required to delete a sports event if 

it has fewer than 1,000 subscribers within the relevant specified zone 

who subscribe to the nationally distributed superstation or network 

station carrying the sports event for which deletion is requested 

pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.

    (f) Notwithstanding paragraph (c) of this section, for sports events 

to be deleted on or before March 31, 2001, notification must be received 

by satellite carriers at least 60 full days prior to the day the 

telecast is to be deleted.



[65 FR 68101, Nov. 14, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 14341, Mar. 25, 2003]