NFL and Churches

We spoke to a member of NFL's counsel who informed us of the following regarding churches and SuperBowl parties:

Under Section 110(5) of the Copyright Act, an establishment may only show the Super Bowl broadcast in a viewing party if: (1) it does not charge admission; and (2) it is shown on a television of a kind commonly used in private homes. Later in the statute, a reference is made to 55-inch televisions which appears to be the standard used to describe the size of television that fits into this definition.

The National Football League has absolutely no objection to churches and others hosting Super Bowl viewing parties as long as they do not charge admission and that the game is now shown on larger screens (greater than 55" under the statute) or multiple screens per room.

It's not true that sports bars can show it for free. They have to pay.

Here's the problem: if the NFL allows in churches and other venues what they oppose in Las Vegas, then their legal hand against gambling interests would be weakened. They can't allow elsewhere what they [don't] permit in Las Vegas.