Senator Baldwin seeks free in-state TV for Packers game amid Netflix exclusivity

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in May 2024 introduced the “For the Fans Act,” a proposal to guarantee free, over-the-air access in a team’s home state to nationally televised games.

The effort has taken on new urgency after confirmation that the Green Bay Packers’ Thanksgiving Eve game against the Los Angeles Rams will stream exclusively on Netflix. Outside the Green Bay and Milwaukee markets, many Wisconsin viewers would need a subscription to watch.

Baldwin’s office describes the bill as a consumer-protection step to preserve long-standing local access.

Supporters say the measure would not rewrite national media contracts but would guarantee a parallel in-state broadcast option. Streaming platforms could still hold national exclusivity, while home-state fans retain free, over-the-air access to games featuring their team. The debate comes as the NFL, like other major U.S. leagues, expands exclusive digital distribution to reach younger audiences and new revenue streams.

Bill would guarantee in-state broadcast access

Over-the-air option alongside national streams

The “For the Fans Act” seeks to codify a carve-out ensuring that residents in a team’s home state can watch nationally televised games featuring that team on free broadcast television. Backers describe the approach as a targeted guardrail that preserves a long-standing norm—local availability for home-state teams—without otherwise changing national rights deals.

According to Baldwin’s office, the requirement would apply whenever a game is designated as nationally televised, including those carried exclusively by a streaming service. In practical terms, if enacted, the bill would require a free broadcast option in Wisconsin for nationally televised Packers games even when those contests sit behind a subscription paywall.

Advocates contend this would standardize access for local supporters who have traditionally relied on over-the-air channels, while allowing streaming platforms to retain their broader nationwide exclusivity. They argue the framework balances commercial rights with consistent access for in-state viewers.

Packers-Netflix matchup highlights access gaps

Limited carriage outside Green Bay and Milwaukee

The immediate flashpoint is the Packers-Rams game slated for the night before Thanksgiving, which will be shown by Netflix with limited local TV carriage in Wisconsin. Event listings indicate that only the Green Bay and Milwaukee markets will have a telecast on local affiliates, leaving fans elsewhere in the state to rely on a Netflix subscription. Similar conditions would apply to any Packers games placed on exclusive streaming packages, such as those on Amazon Prime Video.

Lawmakers and consumer advocates argue that these arrangements create inconsistent access within a single state, as availability can hinge on a viewer’s designated market area. The bill’s backers say an in-state, over-the-air window would close those gaps and align access with past practice for local audiences.

Antitrust and policy backdrop

Officials have said the Department of Justice is examining whether the NFL has exceeded the scope of its broadcast antitrust exemption, placing added scrutiny on exclusive digital deals. While no conclusions have been announced, the review underscores a broader policy question: how to balance the commercial value of exclusivity with equitable access for in-state audiences when marquee events move behind subscription paywalls.

In Wisconsin, the Thanksgiving Eve arrangement—and similar scenarios if future contests are streamed exclusively—illustrates the trade-offs. Local telecasts in Green Bay and Milwaukee will remain, but fans elsewhere in the state face a subscription requirement under the current setup.

Next steps for the “For the Fans Act” include potential committee consideration and stakeholder input. Whether the bill advances or prompts negotiated changes to carriage plans, in-state access to nationally televised games will remain a live issue through the upcoming season.