The Streaming Access and Choice Alliance (SACA) launched in Washington, D.C., backed by Netflix, YouTube and Amazon and led by TechNet with Mike Ward as co-leader. SACA says it will advocate for consumer access, preserve choice across platforms, and support innovative viewing experiences. Sports rights — especially exclusive NFL streams — are a central flashpoint, with the FCC and broadcasters pushing for broader free broadcast access. The new group seeks to fill a representation gap left by the Internet Association's closure and to be a unified voice for streaming in D.C.
Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Form Washington Lobby Group to Defend Streaming Access — Sports Rights a Key Focus
Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Launch a Streaming Public Policy Group
A new Washington, D.C. public policy group, the Streaming Access and Choice Alliance (SACA), launched on Monday with Netflix, YouTube and Amazon as founding members. The initiative is led by TechNet, the technology policy trade group, with Mike Ward, TechNet's Senior Vice President of Federal Policy and Government Relations, serving as a co-leader of SACA.
SACA says it will push for policies that expand consumer access to high-quality content, preserve choice across services, and support innovative viewing experiences. The group positions itself as a unified industry voice to advocate for streaming platforms' interests in Congress and with federal agencies.
What Leaders Say
"Americans want more content choices and flexibility in how and where they watch their favorite programming, including sports and other live events," Mike Ward said. "The industry and its customers deserve a dedicated voice in Washington, D.C., advocating for policies that enable innovation and address the needs of today's consumers."
Why It Matters
Advocacy in Washington has long been split between groups representing legacy studios and tech companies. The Motion Picture Association advocates for major studios, while trade groups such as TechNet represent large technology firms. The Internet Association, which previously represented many internet companies, closed several years ago — leaving a gap that SACA aims to fill for streaming firms.
SACA's launch comes as streaming services face growing scrutiny: subscription prices have risen, programming is increasingly fragmented across platforms, and competition for exclusive content — especially live sports rights — is intensifying. Prime Video and Netflix each hold exclusive NFL game streams this season, drawing attention from regulators and broadcasters.
On its website SACA emphasizes sports rights: "Streaming provides audiences and sports fans more choice and more control. SACA makes sure Washington hears them."
Policy Flashpoints
The Federal Communications Commission and some broadcast groups have lobbied for rules requiring certain sports to be available free on broadcast television, a proposal streaming platforms oppose on principle as it could limit distribution choices and business models. SACA is likely to make defending streaming distribution of sports a top priority in its early advocacy work.
Broader Industry Context
Industry consolidation and competition remain central themes. Paramount CEO David Ellison has pointed to consolidation moves — like his bid for Warner Bros. Discovery — as efforts to better compete with large tech platforms expanding into entertainment.
As SACA begins outreach in Washington, expect it to shape debates on content access, platform choice, sports distribution, and regulation that could affect how Americans watch entertainment and live events.
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