MLB’s Initial CBA Proposal Could Help Iowa Fans Watch Baseball Games
With Major League Baseball in need of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in order for games to be played in the 2027 season, the league's owners are already out-in-front of the matter with an initial proposal to players. Among many things, the proposed CBA addresses blackout policies that have been punitive for fans for decades, most significantly Iowans.
When it comes to baseball fan representation in Iowa, you're likely to find a mix of Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Royals, Twins, and Brewers fans in any given Iowa city. However, maybe you're a fan in name only, to no fault of your own. Trying to watch any of those baseball teams in the state of Iowa is damn-near impossible thanks to Major League Baseball's unfair and archaic blackout rules.
READ MORE: Archaic MLB Blackouts are Ruining Baseball for Iowa Fans
What is a TV Blackout?:
For context, in sports, a "blackout" refers to a TV station electing not to air a specific match in a certain media market. The reasons for why such a game would not be televised vary. Most blackout policies protect local broadcasters (predominately regional sports networks, in this day-and-age) from competition by other networks that carry different teams. They too exist to try and encourage fan attendance.
A look at the MLB blackout map (which shows what states don't air specific teams) and you can see how screwed Iowans are. Most states are one solid color, denoting the inability to watch one specific team. Iowa is a rainbow of madness. Iowa currently has the most blackouts: the Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Royals, Twins, and Brewers are all blacked out in the state.
How the New MLB CBA Could Alleviate Iowans:
While the chief issue of the new MLB CBA is/is going to be the debate of whether or not to install a salary cap or salary floor, addressing blackouts by way of centralized media is also on the table.
Per MLB's website, the league's initial proposal would centralize revenue from all local media markets. That means the revenue generated from local media outlets would be equally distributed amongst the 30 teams:
MLB believes this change will accomplish a top priority for fans by addressing local market blackouts while also increasing exposure for players and teams. Players would receive 50% of any increase in media revenue under the current proposal - per MLB's website
For how contentious the CBA negotiations are likely to get between MLB owners and players, I see this issue as a unifying one for both parties. The wealthy owners stay wealthy with evenly distributed sums of money. The players get additional TV exposure in markets where baseball was all-but destitute. And fans can easily access games after decades of being shunned.
Find out more about potential relief for Iowa sports fans regarding MLB blackouts on the MLB's website.
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Gallery Credit: Seth Berkman
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