Why We Can’t Always Show Fights or Special Events

Why We Sometimes Can’t Show Certain Fights or Special Events

by Edward “Cix” Wyche

Founder/Owner – 6ixx Lounge

We love a packed house on game night! But we also choose to obey the law and respect content licensing. That means we may not be able to show some fights or special events—even if you can watch them at home. Here’s what we can and can’t do.

What You’ll Find on This Page

  1. Why We Can’t Always Show Certain Events – Our promise to follow licensing laws.
  2. Broadcast TV Rules – When and how small venues can legally show over-the-air games.
  3. Streaming Services (Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, etc.) – Why personal streaming accounts can’t be used in bars.
  4. Commercial Licensing for Special Events – How UFC, boxing, NFL games, and other specials work for bars.
  5. Cable & Satellite Packages – Why bars need “public viewing” subscriptions instead of home accounts.
  6. Enforcement & Risks – Why we won’t “risk it” without the proper license.
  7. DVDs, Blu-rays & YouTube – Why owning a disc or finding a video online isn’t permission to show it publicly.
  8. Music & Theme Songs – A quick note on music rights and PROs.
  9. Our Promise to You – How we keep things above board.
  10. Key References & Links – Official sources for the rules mentioned here.

1) Broadcast TV (over-the-air) is usually OK—with strict limits

If a TV is receiving free, over-the-air broadcast signals (like local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), U.S. copyright law allows small venues to show those broadcasts in public only if all of these are true:

  • No admission or cover charge.
  • The premises are under 3,750 sq. ft. (parking excluded).
  • Each TV’s diagonal size is 55 inches or less.
  • We don’t retransmit the broadcast beyond our premises.

These narrow “small business”/“homestyle” exemptions live in 17 U.S.C. §110(5) and are very specific—if we exceed the limits, the exemption doesn’t apply.

 

Practical takeaway: If a big game is on free broadcast TV and we meet the limits above, we can generally show it. If it’s on cable/satellite or a streaming app, different rules apply.

 

2) Streaming services are personal use only

Consumer streaming platforms license content for private, non-commercial viewing and prohibit public showings in bars or restaurants.

  • Netflix Terms of Use (Section 4.2): “The Netflix service and any content … are for your personal and non-commercial use only… You agree not to use the service for public performances.”
    Link: https://help.netflix.com/legal/termsofuse
  • Hulu / Disney+ / ESPN Subscriber Agreement: Services are for personal, non-commercial use and may not be used in commercial establishments.
  • Apple Media Services Terms (Apple TV+): Use is for personal, non-commercial purposes unless Apple specifically says otherwise.

Practical takeaway: We can’t log into a personal streaming account (even if we pay for it) to show programming in the bar.

 

3) Commercial licensing for special events (including streaming-exclusive sports)

Some events (UFC, boxing PPV, certain league games, and streaming-exclusive matchups) require a separate commercial public-performance license for bars/restaurants. For streaming-exclusive sports, the license often comes through a commercial distributor (not the consumer app). Examples include distributors such as EverPass Media for certain live sports in commercial venues.

 

Practical takeaway: If a fight or game lives behind a consumer streaming paywall, we need a business/commercial license or package to show it. If we don’t have that license/package, we can’t legally air it.

 

4) Cable & satellite in bars vs. at home

Commercial TV providers sell public viewing packages that include the permissions needed for bars and restaurants. Residential/home accounts don’t.

Examples: DIRECTV for BUSINESS, Comcast Business TV (Xfinity), Spectrum Business TV.
If an event is on a channel included in our commercial TV package, we can show it. If it requires an added commercial package (or a third-party license), we need to have purchased that.

 

5) Enforcement & risks (why we don’t “risk it”)

Rights-holders and their agents (for example, Joe Hand Promotions for UFC/select boxing PPVs) actively monitor venues and bring claims for unauthorized public performances. Penalties can include statutory damages and legal fees. We won’t put our staff or business at risk.

 

6) “Can we play our own DVDs/Blu-rays or a movie from YouTube?”

Not without a public performance license. Playing movies or TV shows in public (outside a home) typically requires a public performance license from a licensing agency (e.g., MPLC or Swank Motion Pictures)—even if there’s no admission fee.
Finding a movie on YouTube (or anywhere online) doesn’t change that requirement.

 

7) Music & theme songs (quick note)

Background music, theme songs, and jingles are also copyrighted. Many businesses obtain blanket licenses from PROs like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR to cover public performance of music.

8) Our promise to you

We prefer to abide by content-licensing laws and keep things above board. If you’re hoping to watch a specific event here, ask our team in advance—we’ll check whether it’s on broadcast TV under the small-venue exemption, included in our commercial TV package, or available to us through a licensed distributor.

Thanks for understanding and helping us keep the good times legal!

9) Key references & links

 

Legal disclaimer: This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws and licensing terms can change. For specific questions, consult an attorney.