An informational hearing on a bill to give local broadcasters a fair chance on video streaming high school sports was held earlier today in Harrisburg.
The hearing before the House Education Committee focused on House Bill 2074, the proposed “Fair Play in Broadcasting” act from State Representative Jim Struzzi, which came about after a national company offered to stream video presentations of local high school sports during the Covid-19 pandemic. The offer, though, required schools to sign an exclusive contract with it, often without explaining to the school district that the agreement would block local radio stations and video streamers. Online viewers would also have to pay for a subscription to watch the video presentations. The situation was compounded when the PIAA signed an exclusive deal with the streamer.
Mark Bertig, Vice President of Renda Media and Digital, said that the bill is not about getting rid of outside streamers, but giving local broadcasters a shot as well.
Along with broadcasters from other regions in the state, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association was present. Melissa Mertz, the PIAA Associate Executive Director, said that one of the Association’s main concerns is removing some of the home school’s control to oversee interscholastic athletic matters.
There’s no word yet on when a decision will be rendered to approve the bill to go to the floor of the state house.
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