Senators Leahy, Specter Warn NFL Of Limited Game Broadcasts

Washington (AHN) - Two senators sent a warning letter to the National Football League on Wednesday asking authorities to make more games available to viewers and not doing so could make the league loose its anti-trust exemption.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, have warned the league not to limit the broadcast programming reach of NFL games to the benefit of their own NFL Network.

The Senators' written letter quoted on Associated Press said: "Now that the NFL is adopting strategies to limit distribution of game programming to their own networks. Congress may need to reexamine the need and desirability of their continued exemption from the Nation's anti-trust laws."

They have raised concerns that fans in their home states will not be able to see games on the channel involving the New England Patriots or the Pittsburgh Steelers, a related ESPN report said.

The NFL has been in contention with some cable companies regarding the NFL Network's inclusion in their basic cable offerings. This has led to only 40 % of the nation's homes able to watch the games.

Due to the tight distribution airing of the NFL, there are some areas in Vermont or parts of Pennsylvania that could not receive telecasts of the games.

The CNN report said the league favors year-round broadcasts of the entire NFL Network shows lineup and not just of important games.