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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National Association of Broadcasters Commissioner Olivia Trusty addressed the issue of sports leagues broadcasting behind a paywall as Americans’ frustrations build with the number of services needed just to watch a game.
Trusty addressed the issue during a conference in Las Vegas on Monday. She credited FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for identifying that “the public interest is no longer served and the need for government immunity is less clear” as leagues migrate behind a paywall.
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford punts during the Bears game at Soldier Field in Chicago on Jan. 18, 2026. (Matt Marton/Imagn Images)
“In fact, more than 8,000 people submitted comments to the FCC — with 98% of those comments expressing frustration with the streaming migration trend and their hope that broadcasting will remain the preeminent platform for watching their favorite teams,” she said. “Getting broadcasting policy right includes empowering broadcasters to respond to this widespread consumer need and ensuring broadcasters’ continued ability to serve communities, not just through sports but other programs as well.”
A 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.
NFL FANS CALL LEAGUE’S STREAMING STRATEGY A ‘MONEY GRAVE’ AS COSTS SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL
Fans visit the area around the NFL Draft stage outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on April 19, 2026, four days before the first round of the draft. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
These streaming services are Amazon Prime, Peacock 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 accommodate the platforms.
Trusty said “it is in the public interest to have free, widely available access to sports,” as studies have shown that sports have the ability to unite Americans from all walks of life.
The Justice Department reportedly opened an investigation earlier this month into the NFL’s use of streaming services.
“The NFL’s media distribution model is the most fan- and TV-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry,” a league spokesperson said in a statement to Pakinomist Digital. “With over 87% of our games on free-to-air broadcast television, including 100% of games in the competing teams’ markets, for decades the NFL has put our fans at the center of how we distribute our content.
The Amazon Prime Video “Thursday Night Football” logo appears on a television camera during the game between the Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 29, 2024. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
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“The 2025 season was our most watched since 1989 and reflects the strength of the NFL distribution model and its broad accessibility to all fans.”
