DOJ investigates NFL over streaming deals as antitrust exemption comes under scrutiny
The Justice Department is investigating the NFL’s exclusive streaming deals amid fan frustration over fragmented and paid access. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is questioning whether the league should retain its special antitrust exemption originally established by the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act. Pakinomist contributor Jonathan Turley suggests Congress investigate the NFL’s monopoly structure, highlighting their $25 billion annual revenue and rising fan costs.
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Streaming giant Netflix’s push into live sports has ranged from WWE and Formula 1 to select MLB and NFL games.
While the initiative has drawn some criticism, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the strategy is not aimed at securing full-season rights packages for any sports league.”
“We don’t offer the entire season of sports, including the NFL,” Sarandos told Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” on Tuesday. So far, Sarandos’ comments have stuck with Netflix prioritizing marquee events, including Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and the New York Yankees’ opening day shutout of the San Fransisco Giants.
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The Netflix logo is seen on a building in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on December 2, 2025. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Sarandos, holding a firm line on the company’s stance, comes amid the ongoing federal investigation into the NFL and, more generally, the trend toward sports rights growing more fragmented. Some have argued that the trend makes it most costly and ultimately difficult for fans to watch games.
NFL FACES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PROBE AFTER FANS EXPRESS FRUSTRATION WITH STREAMING PIVOT: REPORTS
However, federal investigation into sports fragmentation has brought the issue of live sports on streaming services to the fore.
“Remember, most people pay for TV through pay-TV packages that are much more expensive than Netflix,” Sarandos said, suggesting that despite being technically free, broadcast networks are most often bundled into pay services.
Ted Sarandos, CEO of Netflix, speaks during the Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth groundbreaking in Eatontown, New Jersey on May 13, 2025. (Tanya Breen/Asbury Park Press / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Starting in May, Netflix’s introductory ad-supported tier starts at $8.99 per month. The standard plan starts at $19.99 per month, while the premium tier starts at $26.99 per month. Prices may increase if subscribers add additional members. The basic plan has been discontinued.
“As viewers move a little bit from linear more and more to streaming and on-demand, if the games aren’t there, it seems a little ridiculous. You’re not running in the opposite direction of the American consumer,” Sarandos continued.
This fall, Netflix will once again have an exclusive window for a Christmas Day NFL doubleheader as it expands its total footprint to five games during the 2026 season. The league’s first-ever game in Australia in Week 1 will be streamed exclusively on Netflix, while a Thanksgiving Eve matchup will also be included in the Californian company’s expanded NFL rights package.
Netflix and NFL signs announce the NFL’s two Christmas Day highlight games streaming live on Netflix in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 1, 2024. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
“This is something that’s great for the consumer because it provides a cheap, very affordable way to watch sports, and TV, and movies, and children’s programming, and podcasts, and play games. All of those things for $8.99 is a great proposition for consumers,” said Sarandos, who addressed regulatory scrutiny of sports streaming rights and whether exemptions for non-linear platforms should apply when a non-linear platforms should apply.
“It’s great for the leagues that they have an active competitive base of people bidding on these games, so that’s valuable. I think that’s an important part of the American success story of the economy that you can lean into it and be competitive and you have to deliver.”
Amid concerns that only a select number of tech companies could end up controlling premium entertainment, Sarandos pushed back, Sarandos countered, arguing, “I would say people probably said the same thing when pay TV, which is probably where most people are watching this show right now, came in and took the place of over-the-air TV. This is kind of a natural evolution of technology and consumer demand.”
ONE Pakinomist poll in March indicated that 72% of sports fans believe major sporting events should remain free-to-air on television, amid reports that the NFL is considering allowing teams to sell the rights to preseason games to streaming services.
NFL fans who want access to all games must purchase YouTube TV for “NFL Sunday Ticket,” in addition to the expensive subscriptions to all the streaming services the NFL broadcasts on.
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These streaming services are Amazon PrimePeacock and Netflix. The combination of the respective services is over $1,500 a year, and that doesn’t include the fees that come with basic cable packages or the high-speed Wi-Fi needed to host the platforms.
Front Office Sports reported that the annual NFL Honors ceremony, which takes place in the days leading up to the Super Bowl in the host city, is expected to move to Netflix in early February. The 2027 Super Bowl is scheduled to start on February 14 from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
