Major Sports Leagues and Broadcasters Form North American Spectrum Alliance
North America, Thursday, 9 January 2025.
The NFL, MLB, UFL, and USTA collaborate with broadcasters to address spectrum scarcity, ensuring high-quality live sports broadcasts in North America.
Strategic Alliance Formation
The North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) officially launched the North American Spectrum Alliance on January 7, 2025 [1], marking a significant development in broadcast technology coordination. Under the leadership of Fox Sports vice president Brad Cheney, who will serve as chair [1], the alliance represents a unified response to the growing challenges of spectrum scarcity across the broadcasting industry [1].
Industry-Wide Impact and Response
The spectrum shortage affects not only sports broadcasting but various sectors of the communications industry [1]. To address these challenges, the Alliance has scheduled two critical webinars for January 14 and January 16, 2025 [1]. Rebecca Hanson, Director-General of NABA, emphasized that the Alliance’s influence will strengthen as more spectrum users join the initiative [1]. Notably, the organization maintains an inclusive approach, as membership in NABA is not required for participation in the Spectrum Alliance [1].
Regional Broadcasting Developments
The formation of this alliance comes at a time of significant changes in the broadcasting landscape. Recent developments in spectrum management include the FCC’s revision of emissions limits for the 24 GHz spectrum band in December 2024 [2], demonstrating the ongoing regulatory attention to spectrum allocation. The initiative has gained attention across various broadcasting associations, with the announcement reaching multiple regional broadcasting organizations by January 3, 2025 [3].
Future Outlook
The Alliance is currently developing its comprehensive calendar of events, which will be made available later in January 2025 [1]. This strategic collaboration between major sports leagues and broadcasters represents a proactive approach to addressing the challenges of spectrum management in live sports production. For interested parties seeking more information, the Alliance has established dedicated communication channels through NABA [1].