H.F. 577 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 477A.13 Baseball broadcasting 1 blackout —— prohibition. 2 1. For purposes of this section, “blackout” means the 3 nonairing of a cable, video, or satellite sporting event 4 broadcast on a local broadcast station. 5 2. For purposes of this section, “sports broadcasting 6 entity” means and includes all of the following: 7 a. An internet-based streaming platform with over two and a 8 one-half million subscribers that allows for the live viewing 9 of official major league baseball broadcasts. 10 b. A person providing cable service or video service in this 11 state. 12 3. A sports broadcasting entity shall be prohibited from 13 preventing major league baseball broadcasting through a 14 blackout to paying customers of the sports broadcasting entity. 15 EXPLANATION 16 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 17 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 18 This bill relates to baseball broadcasting blackouts. 19 The bill defines “blackout” to mean the nonairing of a cable, 20 video, or satellite sporting event that is broadcast on a local 21 broadcast station. The bill defines “sports broadcasting 22 entity” to mean and include specified internet-based streaming 23 platforms and a person providing cable service or video service 24 in Iowa. The bill prohibits a sports broadcasting entity 25 from preventing major league baseball broadcasting through a 26 blackout to paying customers. 27 -1- LSB 2380YH (6) 90 es/rn 1/ 1