COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A state lawmaker is looking to ban Ohio State football games from airing exclusively on a streaming service.
Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) introduced Senate Bill 94 last month, which would prohibit public universities in Ohio from granting the broadcasting rights to an athletic event exclusively to a streaming service.
Proposed law could extend Ohio’s school yearDeMora was inspired to work on a bill after an October 2023 Ohio State-Purdue football game aired exclusively on Peacock -- a platform run by NBC's parent company but not by NBC4 or its parent company, Nexstar. The sporting event marked the first time in 315 games that a Buckeyes game was not nationally televised, according to Ohio State’s College of Arts and Sciences.
“It was the first time in over 20 years that I couldn't watch an Ohio State football game on a regular channel,” DeMora said. “I refuse to pay all these streaming networks to watch Ohio State and other sports. ... Streaming television is not good for sports.”
DeMora also argued the exclusive airing of Ohio State games on streaming platforms hurts business at local bars and restaurants, many of whom make a large portion of their profits from game days. He said Peacock charged membership fees per television during the 2023 game and that Varsity Club, across Lane Avenue from campus, spent $3,600 to stream it.
The bill would also require state universities to “work out a deal” with streaming companies that would allow all enrolled students to watch university athletic events for free, DeMora said.
Hateful message left on restaurant receipt results in outpouring of support“Students at public universities should not have to pay out-of-pocket expenses any time they want to watch their classmates participate in sports,” DeMora said. “It's not too much to ask with all the money that the universities are getting with all these new TV contracts.”
Media rights to Ohio State athletics – or agreements regarding game coverage – brought in more than $52 million in revenue in 2024, according to the NCAA's annual financial report. For most universities, media rights are negotiated by conferences and not schools.
It's not just football on streaming platforms. Basketball games for the men's and women's teams this season have aired on Peacock and on the streaming platform of the Big Ten Network.
DeMora introduced a similar bill last February, which did not pass before the end of the legislative session. One introductory hearing was held, but it did not reach the point of receiving opponent testimony.
Morgan schools loses superintendent, could career program be next?Eight college football games per year are expected to air exclusively on Peacock through 2029, thanks to a Big Ten seven-year deal signed in 2022. DeMora’s proposed legislation would only apply to new or renewed contracts.
So far, two Ohio State football games have exclusively streamed on Peacock, with the second being the Michigan State game in September.
“It's ridiculous that we have to pay so much extra money to so many different services in order to watch my alma mater or any public university in Ohio,” DeMora said.
SB 94 was referred to the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, where it awaits its first hearing.
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