[News From Congressman Bart Stupak] 
For Immediate Release
September 8, 2005
Contact:  Adrianne Marsh 
(202) 225-4735

Stupak Settles NFL Sunday Ticket Direct T.V. Agreement in Time for Packers Vs. Lions Game

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Blackout Lifted for Area Satellite Viewers

 

WASHINGTON –Just in time for the kick off of the NFL season and Sunday’s Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers game, Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) announced that Direct TV viewers in the Western Upper Peninsula will be able to watch their regional football games this season. At the request of Stupak, Direct TV, FOX, CBS and the NFL have agreed to continue last year’s arrangement of allowing games to be viewed on Direct TV.

 

Last year, Stupak’s office received hundreds of complaints that viewers’ screens had gone black when the Detroit Lions were supposed to play.  Stupak contacted Direct TV, FOX, CBS and the NFL to determine why the blackout had been imposed and what needed to be done to fix the problem. 

 

This summer, Stupak asked the networks and Direct TV to extend the agreement to the new season.  Stupak was notified today that the networks and Direct TV had negotiated an agreement to lift the blackout in time for this Sunday’s games.

 

“I’m pleased that viewers in the Western U.P. will again be able enjoy their regional football games, beginning with Sunday’s showdown between Detroit and Green Bay.  People who buy a satellite “Sunday Ticket” package rightfully expect to watch all the games played that day.” said Stupak.  “I appreciate the willingness of Direct TV, the networks and stations to work with me and extend the agreement.”

 

The cause of last year’s blackout stemmed from the NFL contract with the networks and Direct TV.   Direct TV, which offers subscribers a Sunday NFL football package that includes conference games nationwide, is prohibited from airing the NFL game that is carried on local CBS and FOX affiliates.  For example, if the local FOX affiliate, WMQF in Marquette runs the Detroit Lions game in that area, then Direct TV must black out that game for that area because its understood that the viewer can get the Fox affiliate broadcast signal over the air with “rabbit ears” or roof top antenna.

 

“What this arrangement had failed to address is that northern Michigan is so rural, it is impossible for many viewers to get that broadcast signal and cable is just not an option.  Without satellite service, they can’t get their regional NFL games,” Stupak said.  “That’s simply unacceptable, and that’s why I worked to get all of the parties together to find a solution.”

 

Last year, the blackout was lifted by zip code.   If viewers had the black out lifted last year, they will again have the blackout lifted this year.  These zip codes were generated from constituents who contacted Stupak because they could not get games using antennas.

 

*An actuality is available at 1-800-320-6091. Enter access code 2839.

 

-MORE-

 

 

The following zip codes have been lifted from the blackout:

CBS Zip Codes

 FOX Zip Codes

49801

49801

49802

49802

49808

49806

49814

49807

49815

49808

49861

49814

49881

49815

49892

49816

49901

49817

49902

49818

49903

49822

49905

49825

49908

49826

49910

49829

49912

49831

49913

49831

49915

49833

49916

49834

49919

49835

49920

49836

49922

49837

49925

49840

49927

49849

49930

49852

49931

49854

49934

49855

49935

49861

49945

49862

49946

49864

49948

49866

49950

49870

49953

49872

49958

49878

49961

49879

49962

49880

49963

49881

49965

49884

49967

49885

49970

49891

54120

49892

54121

49894

54542

49895

49901

49902

49903

49905

49908

49910

49912

49913

49915

49916

49920

49922

49925

49925

49927

49930

49931

49934

49935

49945

49946

49948

49950

49953

49958

49961

49962

49963

49965

49967

49970

53821

53826

54120

54121

54405

54420

54421

54422

54425

54436

54437

54446

54456

54460

54493

54498

54542

54619

54621

54623

54624

54626

54628

54631

54632

54634

54638

54639

54640

54645

54651

54652

54654

54655

54657

54658

54665

54667

54726

54746

54768

54771

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