With hockey season just around the corner, this issue is a hot topic. In 2014, the FCC repealed it's rules on sports blackouts and basically left it up to the leagues to dictate. Clearly the NHL is in money grab mode with this, but it isn't fair to have fans in blackout pergatory because of some wide net each team throws out there and claims to have in it's broadcast area.

TV operators and the NHL unfairly blackout fans from watching their favorite sport team on various out of market products (ie. Center Ice, NHL.tv, etc). There are many different scenarios that cause you to be in the blackout circle.

One issue is when one teams region overlaps with another teams region as well. You are then blacked out of both regions and your local TV operator will put you into the region they think best fits, with no option of being able to obtain the other regions sports channel.

If your TV operator won't provide you with the games, you should be able to stream or watch on Center Ice.

Join with me and raise your voice so that the NHL will hear us that they need to fix their blackout rules.

There is a great article on this over at Broad Street Hockey.