The NAB is throwing the flag on the movement of major sports events from broadcasting to cable-that is, from free to pay TV.

"Broadcasters continue to support the rights of all Americans to have free access to telecasts of major sporting events, particularly those of publicly funded educational institutions," the NAB TV board says in a resolution adopted today.

The resolution directs NAB staff to work with policymakers to "educate them on the importance of ensuring that no segments of society are disenfranchised from this highly valued programming."

The resolution was promoted by the news last week that the Bowl Championship Series had awarded rights to major college football bowl games to ESPN starting in 2011. ESPN had outbid Fox broadcast network for the rights.

According to the a study by the Government Accountability Office, there are roughly 20 million U.S. households exclusively reliant on free over-the-air broadcast television, the NAB pointed out.