NFL Says It's Against The Law To Watch Super Bowl On TV Bigger Than 55 Inches

[matcom]

<snip>

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NFL has nixed a church's plans to use a wall projector to show the Colts-Bears Super Bowl game, saying it would violate copyright laws.

NFL officials spotted a promotion of Fall Creek Baptist Church's "Super Bowl Bash" on the church Web site last week and overnighted a letter to the pastor demanding the party be canceled, the church said.

Initially, the league objected to the church's plan to charge a fee to attend and that the church used the license-protected words "Super Bowl" in its promotions.

Pastor John D. Newland said he told the NFL his church would not charge anyone and that it would drop the use of the forbidden words.

But the NFL objected to the church's plans to use a projector to show the game, saying the law limits it to one TV no bigger than 55 inches.

The church will likely abandon its plans to host a Super Bowl party.

"We want to be supportive of our local team," Newland said. "For us to have all our congregation huddled around a TV that is big enough only for 10 or 12 people to watch just makes little sense."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/specials/playoffs/2006/02/01/bc.fbn.superbowl.church.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

[LSK]

1. ummmm, isnt it broadcast on public airwaves???

:wtf:

[Pierre.Suave]

2. Seriously

are you making this stuff up?

[matcom]

5. follow the link (Sports Illustrated)

sorry. forgot it.

[Pierre.Suave]

14. In that case

the church needs a good attorney.

I want to see which law exactly prohibits the viewing of the Super Bowl on a screen larger than 55 inches.

[WindRavenX]

3. what the...?

How bizzare! :wtf:

[Deja Q]

4. Gee, all those consumers who bought 60" LCD sets are gonna be pissed!

How will the National Fascist League figure out who's got a 60" screen anyway?!

Man, this is a riot...

[smtpgirl]

18. So if someone purchased the biggest TV

108", could they be arrested?

That is shit, just like the older hall-of-famers, some getting a mere $128 from the NFL for retirement. That was on SI.com, a Mike Ditka interview.

I just want some eats & drink, will probably talk through most of it anyway.

Your right HypnoToad - National Facists League, so I wonder why Joe Gibbs ever came back to coach anyway?

[trof]

6. Church? S*per B*wl P*rty?

Sorry, that just ain't right.

[matcom]

7. Jesus is rooting for the Bears

;)

[KamaAina]

11. But bears are godless killing machines!

They eat saints! </colbert>

Then again, my Baltimore-born-and-raised self finds it ludicrous that these clowns wish to support "their" "local" team. :P

Bottom line: I'm not sure God has a dog in this fight. I sure don't. I'm hoping a false report of Castro's death sweeps Miami on Saturday night, causing the Stupor Bowl to be canceled amid the ensuing chaos. :P

[SOteric]

17. Of course God has a dog in this fight.

Bears are very close to the Pope you know.

[ContraBass Black]

10. It's not at all unusual for a church to hold social events for members and outreach.

[GoneOffShore]

8. Ahh, the Stupor Bowl.

I'll be watching golf on Sunday. It's way more exciting.:woohoo: :sarcasm:

[LeftyMom]

9. BestBuy.com has over two dozen TVs 55" or larger. Most of them will wind up in private living rooms.

Can we safely assume the NFL isn't sending the buyers of all of them nasty letters?

[KamaAina]

12. It should be against the law to watch this one on a six-inch portable

:boring: :boring: :boring:

[Frank Cannon]

13. Who enforces this law? The NFL Police?

Truth truly is far stranger than fiction.

[Oeditpus Rex]

15. I think the pastor nailed it

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league's long-standing policy is to ban "mass out-of-home viewing" of the Super Bowl. An exception is made for sports bars and other businesses that show televised sports as a part of their everyday operations.

(snip)

"It just frustrates me that most of the places where crowds are going to gather to watch this game are going to be places that are filled with alcohol and other things that are inappropriate for children," Newland said. "We tried to provide an alternative to that and were shut down."


Sounds to me like the NFL just doesn't want any "mass out-of-home" viewing where people can't indulge in one of its primary sponsors.

I hadn't planned to watch the Stupor Bowl anyway. Now, I shall not do so on principle.

[Mojambo]

16. So incredibly LAME. n/t