ICYMI: Baldwin's New Bill to End Sports Blackouts, Cut Streaming ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced a new bill to stop...
www.baldwin.senate.govHere’s what’s happening: there have been multiple reports in May 2026 about Senator Tammy Baldwin criticizing the NFL’s decision to schedule a Packers game on Thanksgiving Eve exclusively on Netflix, and about Baldwin’s push for federal legislation to ensure free, local live broadcasts for home teams. I can summarize the latest developments and point you to a few representative sources.
Key developments
- Tammy Baldwin publicly criticized the NFL’s Netflix-only Thanksgiving Eve game featuring the Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams, arguing it forces Wisconsinites to subscribe to Netflix just to watch their home team. This sparked broader discussions about streaming of live sports and accessibility for local fans.[5][7]
- Baldwin has introduced or promoted federal legislation aimed at ending sports blackouts or ensuring free, live options for home-state teams, signaling a potential federal response to streaming-first broadcasting models.[4][8]
- The NFL’s arrangement marks a notable shift in how marquee games are distributed, with streaming platforms taking on premium access roles for certain high-profile matchups, drawing political attention and public debate about fan access and costs.[3][7]
Representative sources to check
- Awful Announcing summary of Baldwin’s response to the Netflix Packers game and her call to action.[5]
- A faith-to-action summary from Baldwin’s office highlighting her For the Fans Act and related efforts to curb streaming-driven access barriers.[8]
- News coverage detailing the Netflix Thanksgiving Eve game setup, including the Packers-Rams matchup and the broader implications for fans and streaming rights.[7][9]
If you’d like, I can:
- Compile a brief, sourced timeline of the statements and legislative steps Baldwin has taken on this issue.
- Provide a concise comparison of arguments for and against streaming-centric sports broadcasts from fans, lawmakers, and industry analysts.
- Pull direct quotes from the cited sources and format them with inline citations.