Blackout (broadcasting)

In broadcasting, the term blackout refers to the non-airing of television or radio programming in a certain media market. It is particularly prevalent in the broadcasting of sports events, although other television or radio programs may be blacked out as well.

A similar term, known as preemption (or pre-emption), often refers to stations blacking out a program for other than regulatory or governmental reasons, such as when a local station preempts a television network program for local news (an example of a regular preemption) or a special program (an example of a one-time preemption).