House Democrat demands probe into 'bulls---' broadcast sports monopolies costing Americans thousands

Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., reacts to the White House showing Israel was not behind the Gaza hospital explosion and Iran’s role in the war on ‘America’s Newsroom.’

FIRST ON FOX: A House Democratic lawmaker is demanding an investigation into whether American consumers are being cheated out of thousands of dollars by so-called "sports blackouts" and whether they are a result of broadcast monopolies abusing their power.

"Yesterday was the sports equinox, the one day of the year that all four major professional sports leagues play at once. Yet New Yorkers, who already pay thousands of dollars a year to watch their favorite teams, stared at black screens because billionaire owners care more about profit than their fans. It’s bulls---," Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., told Fox News Digital. 

"[Y]ou shouldn’t have to buy 6 streaming services just to find out the game is blacked out. The leagues make more than enough money – let’s put power back where it belongs: with the fans."

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Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Washington Football Team looks to hand off the ball during a NFL football game against the Panthers at FedExField on December 27, 2020 in Landover, Maryland.  (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

"Sports blackouts" occur when a particular athletic event is prevented from being aired in a specific market. 

Under a law Congress passed in 1961, sports leagues were granted an exemption to antitrust regulations for greater flexibility negotiating between teams and markets. A subsequent 1992 law gave broadcasters the right to black out content when negotiations with providers fell through.

But years later, "sports blackouts" have come under scrutiny as