The For the Fans Act would prohibit professional sports leagues from blacking out games on their official streaming services, eliminating geographic blackouts that currently prevent some viewers from watching certain broadcasts. The bill applies to major sports leagues including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer. It also requires leagues to provide free access to all local fans—defined as individuals in the same state as a team—through a single streaming service or local broadcast supported by advertisements, with the exception of minor leagues and leagues with fewer than eight teams. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the blackout prohibition and treat violations as unfair or deceptive practices, while the Federal Communications Commission and state attorneys general would enforce the free local access requirement. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the legislation.
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