Streaming giants form new Washington lobbying coalition

A new lobbying organization called the Streaming Access and Choice Alliance (SACA) was unveiled in Washington, D.C., bringing together Netflix, YouTube and Amazon as its initial members. The alliance is being organized by TechNet, with Mike Ward, TechNet’s senior vice president of federal policy and government relations, serving as its leader. SACA’s stated mission is to advocate for legislation that expands consumer access to premium streaming content, safeguards choice, and encourages innovative viewing options, with a particular emphasis on live sports rights.

The formation addresses a perceived void in Washington, where the Motion Picture Association represents studios and TechNet represents major tech firms, while streaming services have lacked a dedicated voice. The group also seeks to counter pressure from regulators and broadcasters demanding that sports remain freely available on broadcast TV. Industry observers note that the move comes as streaming platforms face rising costs and fragmented programming line-ups.