Congressman Josh Riley (D, NY-19) recently introduced the Ad-Free Means Ad-Free Act, legislation to crack down on streaming companies that promise customers commercial-free viewing, then change the rules and force them to sit through advertisements.

Many digital streaming platforms that built massive user bases on promises of commercial-free viewing have later added advertisement to their default tiers for both live and on-demand programming. For example, RedZone—the NFL’s popular streaming service—recently announced it would broadcast advertisements for the first time in its 17-year history. Outraged fans viewed the change as a bait-and-switch that fundamentally breached the ad-free experience they had already purchased.

“If you pay for ad-free, you should get ad-free. It’s that simple,” Riley said. “For years, football fans were promised seven hours of commercial-free football. Now the big streaming companies are moving the goalposts to squeeze even more money out of hardworking people. Upstate New Yorkers are sick and tired of getting ripped off. My bill makes these companies honor their promises and gives fans what they paid for.”

RedZone is not alone in its change from an ad-free model. Across the industry, major streaming platforms are introducing commercials into previously ad-free tiers, often forcing users to pay an additional surcharge to restore the uninterrupted experience they originally signed up for. The Ad-Free Means Ad-Free Act would prohibit streaming services from adding commercials to paid subscriptions originally advertised or offered as commercial-free within one year or the length of the original contract.

The act is endorsed by the Sports Fans Coalition. 

You can read the text of the legislation at www.bit.ly/4scfXF8.

Office of Rep. Josh Riley
Washington, D.C.