Trump Says He Will Sign Executive Order to Preserve Exclusive Broadcast Window for Army-Navy Game
President Donald Trump vowed to sign an executive order to secure an exclusive four‑hour broadcast window for the Army‑Navy Game amid legal and regulatory uncertainty.
Overview
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social he will sign an executive order creating an exclusive four-hour broadcast window for the Army-Navy Game on the second Saturday in December.
Media-law experts and telecommunications lawyers said such a directive likely raises First Amendment and regulatory problems, calling into question whether the federal government can mandate broadcast scheduling.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr reposted Trump’s message but the agency did not comment; streaming platforms remain outside FCC oversight as sports rights shift to digital services.
CBS Sports has televised Army-Navy since 1996 and holds rights through 2038; Paramount did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the proposed order.
Supporters say the order would protect a national tradition from playoff expansion and big TV money; critics view it as political pressure on college football scheduling.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Trump's broadcast-order announcement as a political maneuver and logistical long shot, emphasizing legal uncertainty and partisan motive. They juxtapose the post with ICE raids and tariff news, use speculative phrasing ('may merely be a way of pressuring'), highlight FCC authority questions, and note limited response from college officials or military representatives.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Trump stated that the Army-Navy Game is a great American tradition at risk from college playoff games and big TV money. He vowed to sign an executive order securing an exclusive 4-hour broadcast window on the second Saturday in December for Army-Navy only, with no other games allowed in that slot.
Media-law experts and constitutional scholars note that mandating broadcast scheduling likely raises First Amendment free speech concerns and regulatory problems, as the federal government may not have authority over private networks' programming.
CBS Sports has televised the Army-Navy Game since 1996 and holds the rights through 2038.
Supporters argue it protects a national tradition from playoff expansion and big TV money influences; critics see it as undue political pressure on college football scheduling.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr reposted Trump’s message, but the agency provided no official comment; streaming platforms are outside FCC oversight.
History
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