The Advocacy Report August 2026: Latest Policy & Industry Updates
August 24, 2026
NOTEWORTHY.
Sunday Ticket Punts on Streaming-Only. Good news for restaurants and bars heading into football season: DIRECTV and EverPass have reached a multiyear agreement that will keep NFL Sunday Ticket available through DIRECTV for Business. The agreement means operators can continue using the familiar DIRECTV platform without the added costs and operational challenges of transitioning to a streaming-only solution. DIRECTV for Business will also continue offering other premium sports programming, including NFL RedZone, ESPN+, MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass and MLS Season Pass. For operators who rely on live sports to drive traffic, this is a welcome dose of certainty just in time for kickoff.
High Stakes in Washington. Right before leaving for the August recess, the Senate passed a government funding bill that would keep the government open beyond the September 30 funding deadline and through December 11. Tucked into the bill is a provision that would delay the federal ban on most hemp-derived THC products, including THC beverages, from November until December 11. While the delay only provides about an additional month, it creates another window for Congress to work toward a long-term regulatory solution for hemp-derived THC beverages. Now the real fun begins – the bill now goes to the House for approval.
Blame Canada? Trade tensions between the United States and Canada escalated over the weekend after negotiations broke down, triggering a new 50% U.S. tariff on approximately $20 billion in Canadian imports. The tariffs cover several products with restaurant ties, including dairy products, wine, beer, spirits, honey, molasses and hops. Canada has announced plans for retaliatory tariffs beginning September 8, creating additional uncertainty for the highly integrated U.S.-Canadian supply chain.
SCOTT'S THOUGHTS
Anytime I hear “NFL Sunday Ticket,” I think back to Eli and Peyton Manning’s rap “Football on Your Phone,” which shows the power of marketing considering I can still remember that song 13 years later. It also speaks to just how far our media consumption has come in a relatively short period of time. Back then, football on your phone was this crazy thought of, “Hey, you can watch your favorite NFL team wherever you want,” and now that thought is more, “Duh, of course I can.”
However, the recent NFL Sunday Ticket discussion points to the fact that while we are rapidly moving toward an all-streaming world, maybe we aren’t quite there yet. Restaurants need the capability to offer the sports people want to watch while enjoying a meal, and currently that’s through infrastructure that is already in place, well known and reliable each week.
I’m glad common sense prevailed on this one, and we can continue to enjoy football in restaurants across Georgia - or on your phone.