Netflix, Amazon and YouTube have formed a new Washington, D.C. lobbying organization as lawmakers turn their attention to the rising cost of streaming live sports.
The group, called the Streaming Access and Choice Alliance (SACA), will be led by the tech-industry trade association TechNet. Its stated goal, according to its website, is to “promote high-quality and high-value entertainment experiences for consumers.”
“The Streaming Access and Choice Alliance (SACA) was established to engage policymakers and highlight the many benefits that streaming services deliver to consumers,” the group states on its website. “Amazon, YouTube, and Netflix — three companies at the forefront of delivering best-in-class consumer and product experiences via streaming — are founding members. SACA will provide the industry and consumers a voice in Washington, D.C., advocating for pro-competition policies that acknowledge the ever-evolving landscape and put consumers and their entertainment preferences first.”
Mike Ward, senior vice president of federal policy and government relations at TechNet, framed the effort as a response to consumer demand for flexibility.
“Americans want more content choices and flexibility in how and where they watch their favorite programming, including sports and other live events,” Ward said in a statement. “Streaming and digital entertainment companies offer audiences better features and value for their money. The industry and its customers deserve a dedicated voice in Washington, D.C., advocating for policies that enable innovation and address the needs of today’s consumers.”
The new alliance arrives as lawmakers on Capitol Hill have grown more critical of how much consumers are paying to watch sports across a fragmented landscape of streaming subscriptions.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) introduced legislation earlier this year aimed at ending blackouts of professional sports games and simplifying the patchwork of services fans must pay for to follow their teams. According to reporting by Variety, the bill would require professional sports leagues to make all of a team’s games available to local fans in one place, either on television or streaming, at no cost.
The formation of SACA signals that the country’s largest streaming platforms intend to have an organized presence in Washington as that debate over pricing, access and blackouts continues.
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