Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Launch a Streaming Public Policy Group
The Streaming Access and Choice Alliance (SACA) will represent the interests of streaming platforms in Washington.
Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube have united to form the Streaming Access and Choice Alliance (SACA) in response to the federal government's scrutiny of the shift of major sports rights from traditional television to digital platforms. The alliance, led by the trade association TechNet, aims to advocate for "technology-neutral policies that encourage innovation in entertainment."
The group comes as the Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission consider the potential revision of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which grants professional sports leagues an antitrust exemption to pool and collectively sell their television rights. The FCC Chairman has raised concerns about this exemption contributing to more sports content moving exclusively behind streaming paywalls.
As founding members of the alliance, Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube have significant stakes in this debate, given their investments in live sports programming. The NFL, NBA, and other major sports properties have expanded their digital distribution deals, as technology companies vie more aggressively for live events. Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube previously belonged to the Internet Association, but have since launched this new organization to provide a shared lobbying voice as streaming becomes a dominant part of the media landscape.
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