INDIANAPOLIS (BP)--The National Football League has told a Southern Baptist church in Indianapolis it will run afoul of federal copyright law if it hosts a Super Bowl party this Sunday, even though the league makes a major exception for such large-scale viewings at sports bars.
Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis was one of probably thousands of churches across the nation scheduled to host a party this Sunday evening as part of an outreach to the congregation and the community.
But now, the church -- whose hometown Colts will play the Chicago Bears -- has canceled the event under pressure from the NFL, which says large-group events can show the Super Bowl on a TV no larger than 55 inches wide. The church had planned on showing the game on a projector that would have resulted in a 12-foot screen. A 55-inch screen would be too small for the hundreds that were planning on attending. NFL policy also prohibits the use of multiple televisions. The league even had a problem with the church showing a video highlighting the Christian testimonies of Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy and Chicago coach Lovie Smith. NFL rules prohibit broadcast of the game at events that "promote a message."
Well, thank you NFL. I was really worried that all those church parties were going to get out of hand. Phew.
I know of 2 church-organized parties within 5 miles of my house that were shut down because of the NFL's threatened legal action. I wasn't planning on going to either of them, but 300+ people -- instead of having fun and watching the game together -- all had to stay home (or go to a friend's house) to watch the game.
The NFL is moving dangerously close to territory wherein they begin to take their fans for granted. If they continue down this path, it will eventually come back to haunt them.
First Irvin getting in before Monk and now this!?!??!?!
This NFL is just pissing me off more and more every year!!!!
I have to think that if they were showing this in a crack house the NFL wouldn't have a problem with it! But may Heaven forbid letting a congregation get together to watch a NFL game!
They seem not to care about us fans. Why do they not clamp Down on sports bars then? Because they might offend Anheiser Bush or the Miller Brewing corp. Then there goes the add revenues.
Cowturd hater in the house.
Majesty rider in the house.
Cowturd troll owner here
Does Brokeback mountain mean anything to cowturd fanatics?
flamethrower wrote:They seem not to care about us fans. Why do they not clamp Down on sports bars then? Because they might offend Anheiser Bush or the Miller Brewing corp. Then there goes the add revenues.
I know it's kind of silly for me to say it given the financial behemoth that is the current NFL but I just get this distinct feeling that the Goodell era will eventually be looked back upon as one rife with mistakes that cost the league money.
Actually my church was able to get permission directly from the NFL on Sunday. It was then stated that the "church ban" was lifted. I'm surprised that news didn't get published? Actually, I'm not surprised!
We had a 70 ft diagonal High Def screen, it was very, very nice.
