WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation praised the National Football League and DirecTV for reaching a negotiated agreement to extend the popular NFL Sunday Ticket package to customers until 2014.  The NFL also signaled that it plans to offer similar content to consumers over the broadband facilities of other providers in areas where satellite service is not available.

“It is important for consumers to have enhanced viewing options,” said Senator Hutchison. “The NFL and DirecTV have worked out an arrangement that will preserve, and even enhance the experience for millions of consumers without government intervention.  It is also important that parties work together to find innovative ways to offer such content to areas where satellite service is unavailable.”