HF 577 (LSB 2380YH (6) 90)

HOUSE FILE 577

BY  SCHOLTEN and KAUFMANN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to baseball broadcasting blackouts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  477A.13  Baseball broadcasting blackout —— prohibition.
   1.  For purposes of this section, “blackout” means the nonairing of a cable, video, or satellite sporting event broadcast on a local broadcast station.
   2.  For purposes of this section, “sports broadcasting entity” means and includes all of the following:
   a.  An internet-based streaming platform with over two and a one-half million subscribers that allows for the live viewing of official major league baseball broadcasts.
   b.  A person providing cable service or video service in this state.
   3.  A sports broadcasting entity shall be prohibited from preventing major league baseball broadcasting through a blackout to paying customers of the sports broadcasting entity.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to baseball broadcasting blackouts.
   The bill defines “blackout” to mean the nonairing of a cable, video, or satellite sporting event that is broadcast on a local broadcast station. The bill defines “sports broadcasting entity” to mean and include specified internet-based streaming platforms and a person providing cable service or video service in Iowa. The bill prohibits a sports broadcasting entity from preventing major league baseball broadcasting through a blackout to paying customers.