Can someone explain those local and national blackouts to me? As a european this concept sounds very foreign and absurd. Sure, I'll have to subscribe to Pay TV, but not being able to watch my favorite football (as in soccer) team is pretty much unthinkable over here, particularly if I already pay to do exactly that.
Local tv channels have the broadcast rights for the home team area - like SNY in New York has the rights for the Mets. Their contracts specify that they have exclusive rights to the broadcast for their coverage area, so internet coverage must be blacked out.
