As television station owners gathered in Las Vegas this week for the annual National Assn. of Broadcasters convention, they sent an urgent message to Washington that could be summed up in one word — “Help.”
Streaming video has siphoned away the traditional viewing audience. Advertisers have shifted their budgets to digital and away from broadcasters. On the horizon, there is fear that streaming will get more of broadcast TV’s last surefire attraction, the NFL, which can exit its media rights deal after the 2029 season.
