Quinn Allen, President of the Ohio Bar Owners Association and Andy Herf, Executive Director of the Ohio Bar Owners Association, testified before lawmakers to urge support for the legislation Senate Bill 94. SB94 would prohibit state universities from entering or renewing contracts with streaming platforms for broadcast of athletic events, and would make that broadcast open to local tv stations and free for enrolled students to observe the games for free. Allen and Herf argued that exclusive streaming deals severely hinder a venue’s ability to provide the game-day experience fans have come to expect.
Commercial venues face significant challenges when games are moved to streaming platforms, such as:
High Out-of-Pocket Costs: Bars are often forced to purchase single-use streaming boxes or pay for full, third-party sports network subscriptions just to air a single game.
Technical Failures: Streaming feeds often fail to sync across multiple TVs and are incredibly difficult to route through in-house stereo systems, ruining the game-day atmosphere.
Short Notice: Streaming schedules are typically announced the week of the game, making it nearly impossible for venues to get the necessary commercial equipment shipped in time.
These technical difficulties ultimately lead to a substantial financial hit for local businesses. Herf and Allen noted that when venues cannot guarantee a quality viewing experience, fans opt to stay home on what should be the most profitable days of the year for campus-area bars.
Speaking on behalf of the Ohio Bar Owners Association, Allen argued that state-funded public universities have an obligation to keep their broadcasts accessible to the general public, rather than locking them behind exclusive streaming platforms.
