When we reported on the NFL's crackdown on Super Bowl church gatherings a few days ago, many of you commented that the league's policy -- no large gatherings to watch the game if the screen is 55" or above -- was a bunch of what Col. Potter used to call "horsehockey," especially when it came to places of worship.It seems like the league got the message... sort of. According to WorldNetDaily, the NFL has no objections to churches holding these large-screen gatherings, as long as no admission is charged (because you know how those little churches like to make wicked profits from games like this).
The other part of the league's statement said that the TV would also have to be "of the type commonly used at home." Considering many people have 55" or bigger sets at home these days, I'm not quite sure what they mean by that (I'm guessing movie screens in theaters and stadiums).
Anyway, it's too little, too late for a lot of churches, including the Indianapolis church; many have cancelled their gatherings rather than face the league's legal wrath. Oh, well. I guess there's always the Pro Bowl...
[via Tom's Hardware and Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-04-2007 @ 3:05PM
Brent McKee said...
I wonder if this ban would extend to charging for a meal while you were watching the game. You know, "you can watch the game for free but we're charging $10 for a delicious roast beef dinner prepared by members of the congregation." It's like the theatres - they don't make money on the movie but they clean up at the concession stand.
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2-04-2007 @ 4:17PM
David said...
That's a good point, just serve sme pasta (cheap and easy) and charge $10 for each person.
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2-04-2007 @ 5:17PM
Adam said...
That's weird. There was a theater in my hometown in FL that used to broadcast Monday Night Football every week. They said they weren't allowed to charge you so it was free admission and they just made money on the food. Of course, the movie screen is hardly what someone would "typically have at home." Maybe they got the same kind of license a sportsbar would.
Anyway, it was great for us because it was one of those theaters with tables rather than rows of seats and waitresses would come around taking orders. Great way to watch Monday night games.
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2-04-2007 @ 6:16PM
David said...
My local news just reported the old report and said that projecters were ban because they don't count towards the ratings. Umm... 99.9% of the country doesn't have the neilson boxes needed to raise ratings. The NFL is bullshit, I'm boycotting the damn Superbowl this year, not really, I just don't care about the game. :)
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