Streaming Giants Unite Against Sports Cost Criticism
Three major streaming services, Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube, have formed a new lobbying group in Washington D.C. called the Streaming Access and Choice Alliance (SACA) to counter growing criticism over the cost of watching sports on their platforms.
The alliance aims to promote high-quality entertainment experiences for consumers by advocating for technology-neutral policies that encourage innovation in the industry, according to SACA's statement.
With TechNet leading the lobbying efforts, the group claims that streaming services offer better features and value for money compared to traditional broadcast TV. 'Americans want more content choices and flexibility in how and where they watch their favorite programming, including sports and other live events,' said Mike Ward, senior VP of federal policy and government relations at TechNet.
The formation of SACA comes as U.S. politicians have taken aim at the growing cost and complexity for Americans to watch their favorite sports teams on streaming services. A new bill introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) would require professional sports leagues to provide local fans with access to all of their teams' games in one single location, either on TV or streaming, for free.