Justice Department opens an antitrust investigation into the NFL over games on paid.. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-10-2026, 12:20 AM

...streaming platforms

https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/...tment-8835a936

“The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether the National Football League has engaged in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers, according to people familiar with the situation,” reports The Wall Street Journal’s Jessica Toonkel and Dana Mattioli. “The Sports Broadcasting Act grants the league limited antitrust protection to allow the teams to collectively negotiate packages of TV rights. Media companies, regulators and members of Congress have raised concerns in recent months over how difficult it is for consumers to be able to watch their favorite sports games as a result of rights deals in which leagues offer smaller packages of games to streamers. The nature and scope of the investigation couldn’t immediately be learned. Spokesmen for the Justice Department and the NFL declined to comment. When the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 was passed, consumers largely were able to watch NFL games over broadcast TV. Now, games appear on a host of different channels and platforms, some of which require a subscription. In February, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it was seeking public comment on how this dynamic had affected consumers.” As The Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Weprin notes: “The FCC and DOJ investigations could have real-world implications for the league and its media partners, which include companies with broadcast networks like Paramount, Fox and NBCUniversal, and partners like Amazon, Disney and Netflix, which have largely used live sports as a subscription driver (Disney does put some games on ABC, while Fox, Paramount and NBC simulcast games on their streaming services).” In a statement, the NFL said: “The NFL’s media distribution model is the most fan and broadcaster-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry. With over 87% of our games on free, broadcast television, including 100% of games in the markets of the competing teams, the NFL has for decades put our fans front and center in how we distribute our content. The 2025 season was our most viewed since 1989 and reflects the strength of the NFL distribution model and its wide availability to all fans.”

04-10-2026, 12:20 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,387	Justice Department opens an antitrust investigation into the NFL over games on paid.. ...streaming platforms https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/...tment-8835a936 “The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether the National Football League has engaged in anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers, according to people familiar with the situation,” reports The Wall Street Journal’s Jessica Toonkel and Dana Mattioli. “The Sports Broadcasting Act grants the league limited antitrust protection to allow the teams to collectively negotiate packages of TV rights. Media companies, regulators and members of Congress have raised concerns in recent months over how difficult it is for consumers to be able to watch their favorite sports games as a result of rights deals in which leagues offer smaller packages of games to streamers. The nature and scope of the investigation couldn’t immediately be learned. Spokesmen for the Justice Department and the NFL declined to comment. When the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 was passed, consumers largely were able to watch NFL games over broadcast TV. Now, games appear on a host of different channels and platforms, some of which require a subscription. In February, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it was seeking public comment on how this dynamic had affected consumers.” As The Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Weprin notes: “The FCC and DOJ investigations could have real-world implications for the league and its media partners, which include companies with broadcast networks like Paramount, Fox and NBCUniversal, and partners like Amazon, Disney and Netflix, which have largely used live sports as a subscription driver (Disney does put some games on ABC, while Fox, Paramount and NBC simulcast games on their streaming services).” In a statement, the NFL said: “The NFL’s media distribution model is the most fan and broadcaster-friendly in the entire sports and entertainment industry. With over 87% of our games on free, broadcast television, including 100% of games in the markets of the competing teams, the NFL has for decades put our fans front and center in how we distribute our content. The 2025 season was our most viewed since 1989 and reflects the strength of the NFL distribution model and its wide availability to all fans.”