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3 NFL Clubs Sign TV Blackout Pacts Giants, Eagles and Steelers Agree Not to Televise Home Games Despite Pending Suit By C. B. ENGELKE United Press Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA, Pa., May 21.— Three professional football teams, with the blessing of commissioner Bert Bell, today signed television agreements blacking out all 1952 home games — a move the government charged violates the anti-trust laws. Representatives of the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, together with Bell and advertising agency officials, signed contracts which will give hometown viewers a look at six away games for each team but will keep the TV screens dark for all home games. Meanwhile, U. S. District Court Judge Allan K. Grim scheduled a pre-trial hearing for June 2 in the Governments suit against the National Football League on charges that the "blackout" policy violates the anti-trust laws. The suit is expected to set a precedent for possible similar Government suits in other sports. The case is expected to go to trial June 16 * despite rumors that the NFL might agree to a consent decree at the pre-trial hearing. It was understood that Bell was standing firm in his position that the league is "very willing to go into court" and settle, the anti-trust question. Under a consent decree the league would discontinue its present television arrangements and the Government would drop the suit. New York City Blacked Out The contracts signed today provided for telecasting of Giants games in New York and New England, with New York City being blacked out for all home games; the Eagles away games will be televised in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., and Lancaster, Pa.; and the Steelers away games will be televised in Pittsburgh and Johnstown, Pa. The agreements were signed by Bell, John D. Mara, president of the Giants; Arthur Mooney, of the Steelers; Joe Dono-hue of the Eagles, and Richard Borden and Vern Mullin, advertising managers of two sponsoring companies. The 1952 schedule provides that in addition to New England, all New York championship games will be telecast in Boston, Providence, R. I., New Haven, Conn., and Binghamton, Schenectady, Syracuse, and Utica, N. Y. The Governments anti-trust suit was filed last Oct, 9, charging in the first such suit against organized sports that the NFL denied "the people of their right to see football games." The defendants "have engaged in a combination and conspiracy in unreasonable restraint of trade and commerce," the suit charged, adding that "citizens are entitled to have sports on television and radio free of restraint." The suit hits at the leagues constitution which restricts the telecasting or broadcasting of football games in any city in which such a game is being played without the consent of Bell, the home club and the visiting club. Bell, the league, and each team in the league were named as defendants. "The law was written by the trust department and interpreted by the trust department," Bell said. "As far as the National Football League is concerned we are very willing to go into court and get that interpretation."
