BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

How can Amazon Prime ban political ads on Thursday Night Football?

  • Streaming services like Amazon, Netflix, aren’t regulated by FCC
  • TV networks, cable channels must sell candidates advertising time
  • Sports blog founder celebrates opportunity to avoid campaign ads
The Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football post game show.

SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: General view of the Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football post game show featuring George Kittle at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

carousel

More U.S.

BE - Test Share

More Sports

(NewsNation) — As the biannual flood of political ads overtakes every show on broadcast TV and cable between now and Election Day, there is one football game every week that is free of political ads: Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime.

“During an election year, we prohibit media products about a specific political party, issue, or candidate,” Amazon states on its list of prohibited content. But why is Amazon free from FCC regulations that force TV and cable to sell ads to campaigns?

It’s because streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu are not subject to FCC regulation.

“The definitions and language Congress wrote into current statutory provisions do not extend to internet streamers,” former FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly wrote last year.

“Bless you, Amazon,” wrote Ben Koo, founder of the sportscasting blog Awful Announcing.

“The blockade on political ads … elevates the experience above all the other NFL games. It doesn’t matter who is playing, what announcers are calling the game, or the quality of the broadcast or studio show. If you spare me five to 10 minutes of political ads, you win,” Koo added.

Current FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel told Congress last year that neither the Communications Act nor the Cable Act allow the FCC to regulate streamers. She told lawmakers that such an expansion of the commission’s jurisdiction would have to come from Congress.

Media

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

58°F Fair Feels like 58°
Wind
5 mph NNE
Humidity
54%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Clear skies. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.
55°F Clear skies. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
4 mph N
Precip
0%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous