Raiders Fans Excited For NFL's Relaxed TV Rules
OAKLAND (KCBS) — Fans of the Oakland Raiders are supporting a new rule by the National Football League making it easier for teams to televise their home games locally.
Monday's exhibition opener against the Dallas Cowboys is being broadcast on CBS 5 in the Bay Area because of relaxed rules implemented by the NFL last May. The game is also being broadcast nationally on ESPN.
For years, teams had to sell out their games 72 hours before kickoff or local TV coverage would be blacked out. With the new rules, NFL owners decided that now teams who sell 85 percent of their tickets by the deadline can broadcast those games locally.
KCBS' Bob Butler Reports:
Brittany Atkinson, daughter of former Raider great George Atkinson, called it a smart move.
"I think it's great. You know the Raiders definitely need a little more coverage. We've got a large Raider base out there nationwide. Why not let our fans come out and see us play Sunday or Monday?" Atkinson said.
The change comes at a price; teams that use the 85 percent rule must share more revenue with the visiting team.
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