Monumental Sports Talks MFN, ADM Woes With Commissioners

Monumental Sports & Entertainment said most-favored nation and alternative distribution method contractual terms are adversely affecting its ability to function as an independent video programmer. In a docket 24-115 filing posted Friday in which it recapped meetings with FCC Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Anna Gomez, Monumental said ADM provisions can be a big hurdle to distribution through online platforms, some of which would otherwise make Monumental's content available to all subscribers. In addition, it said MFNs can impede providing direct-to-consumer offerings, even making it impossible to offer those at competitive prices. Such contractual terms often don't account for large differences in the technology and economics of different distribution methods and ultimately leave fans with fewer ways of following their local teams, it said. MFN consequences are particularly significant for consumers lacking access to premium subscription plans offered by multichannel video programming distributors, as regional sports networks like Monumental often aren't part of MVPDs' base plans, it said.