Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 888

119th Congress

Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 21, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Gregory W. Meeks

Representative

Democratic

NY-5

Cosponsors

5

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Summary

This bill requires cable and satellite TV providers to give customers rebates when programming disputes cause blackouts of channels they pay for. The FCC must set rules on rebate amounts for periods when subscribers lose access to programming.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill requires cable and satellite TV providers to give customers rebates when programming disputes cause blackouts of channels they pay for. The FCC must set rules on rebate amounts for periods when subscribers lose access to programming.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025This bill requires cable and satellite broadcast providers to issue rebates to customers who are denied access to video programming included in their subscription because of programming negotiations. Specifically, where a provider’s negotiations related to the retransmission or carriage of video programming result in the provider failing to offer access to programming included in a customer’s subscription, the customer must be issued a rebate for the affected period. The Federal Communications Commission is directed to issue rules to this effect, including to establish the appropriate amount for such a rebate.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires rebates when programming disputes cause blackouts
Applies to cable and satellite providers
FCC sets rules on rebate amounts
Covers retransmission fee disputes
Compensates subscribers during channel loss

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

TV subscribers would receive money back when contract disputes between cable companies and networks result in channel blackouts. Sports fans who lose access to games during fee negotiations would be compensated.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

888, 119th Congress (2025). "Stop Sports Blackouts Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-888