HR888-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025.

2. Rebates for video programming blackouts Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations— to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of such provider a rebate with respect to any period during which the provider denies such subscriber, as a result of a covered negotiation, access to video programming that such provider agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as the case may be), to provide to such subscriber during such period; and to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate issued under paragraph (1). In this section: The term covered negotiation means a negotiation with respect to— retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under section 325(b); or carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station. The term provider means either of the following: A cable operator (as defined in section 602). A provider of direct broadcast satellite service (as defined in section 335(b)(5)). The term television broadcast station has the meaning given such term in section 325(b)(7). The term video programming has the meaning given such term in section 602. 723.Rebates for video programming blackouts(a)In generalNot later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations—(1)to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of such provider a rebate with respect to any period during which the provider denies such subscriber, as a result of a covered negotiation, access to video programming that such provider agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as the case may be), to provide to such subscriber during such period; and(2)to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate issued under paragraph (1).(b)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Covered negotiationThe term covered negotiation means a negotiation with respect to—(A)retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under section 325(b); or(B)carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station.(2)ProviderThe term provider means either of the following:(A)A cable operator (as defined in section 602).(B)A provider of direct broadcast satellite service (as defined in section 335(b)(5)).(3)Television broadcast stationThe term television broadcast station has the meaning given such term in section 325(b)(7). (4)Video programmingThe term video programming has the meaning given such term in section 602..

723. Rebates for video programming blackouts Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations— to require a provider to issue to a subscriber of such provider a rebate with respect to any period during which the provider denies such subscriber, as a result of a covered negotiation, access to video programming that such provider agreed, at the time of subscription entry or renewal (as the case may be), to provide to such subscriber during such period; and to establish the appropriate amount of a rebate issued under paragraph (1). In this section: The term covered negotiation means a negotiation with respect to— retransmission consent of a television broadcast station under section 325(b); or carriage of video programming of an entity that is not a television broadcast station. The term provider means either of the following: A cable operator (as defined in section 602). A provider of direct broadcast satellite service (as defined in section 335(b)(5)). The term television broadcast station has the meaning given such term in section 325(b)(7). The term video programming has the meaning given such term in section 602.