[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT

  Mr. MORAN. Madam President, as the Senate considers the Protect 
College Sports Act, I believe we must clarify its proposed application 
of the Sports Broadcasting Act to a new collegiate collective entity.
  It is important to make clear that the Protect College Sports Act 
would expand the Sports Broadcasting Act only with respect to the 
entities which may be covered by the antitrust exemption in selling 
telecast rights--in this case, the new covered intercollegiate entity.
  The legislation expands only the eligible entities selling telecast 
rights under the SBA, not the scope of the exemption itself. The bill 
would not modify the scope of the underlying Sports Broadcasting Act's 
allowance of the collective sale or transfer of media rights to 
entities beyond those that will make games available via ``sponsored 
telecasting.''
  As a result, the new collegiate entity is only covered by the 
antitrust exemption in negotiations with media partners that provide 
games to the public via broadcast, rather than exclusive streaming 
arrangements. The bill would not modify the scope of activities 
protected by the underlying SBA and nothing in title II of the 
legislation should be construed as doing so.
  The intent of this legislation is to increase fans' access to college 
sports on free, over-the-air broadcasting. I encourage universities and 
conferences to work with local and national broadcasters to make 
certain college sports are accessible to all.

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