DOJ Investigates NFL’s Exclusive Streaming Deals Amid Antitrust Concerns

The Department of Justice is examining the NFL’s streaming agreements amidst growing fan dissatisfaction over fragmented and costly viewing options. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has questioned whether the league should retain its antitrust exemption, originally granted by the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act. Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley believes Congress should scrutinize the NFL’s monopolistic structure, emphasizing the league’s $25 billion annual revenue and rising consumer costs.

A report released on Monday by the House Judiciary Committee and its chairman, Jim Jordan, criticized the NFL, asserting that despite being America’s most popular sports league, it has exceeded the legal confines of the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act and its antitrust exemption while evolving into a profitable sports empire. This transformation, according to the report, limits consumer choices and inflates costs for accessing games.

The document, obtained by Fox News, underscores the claim that the Sports Broadcasting Act (SBA) was enacted to ensure games were readily available on free television and to aid a struggling league. However, lawmakers argue that since 1961, the antitrust exemption has allowed the NFL to grow into a powerful sports media entity, stretching the exemption’s boundaries.

The report heavily focuses on the NFL’s Sunday Ticket offering, showcasing evidence from a related antitrust case, which includes a 2024 jury verdict finding the NFL in violation of antitrust law, awarding over $4.796 billion in damages to plaintiffs. This verdict was later vacated by a judge, a decision the report deems erroneous.

The study highlights that most subscribers to the Sunday Ticket are not avid fans seeking every game but rather fans aiming to watch a specific out-of-market team. Additionally, internal data indicates these subscribers face challenges due to restricted viewing options.

Fresh details in the report show troubling actions by the NFL concerning its Sunday Ticket package. ESPN had reportedly proposed a package priced around $70 per season. The NFL opposed this price and a team-specific purchase option, resulting in a more expensive bundle that limits consumer choice.

The Committee and Subcommittee’s investigations into the NFL’s agreements with broadcasters, cable, and streaming services are ongoing, focusing on how these fit within the SBA’s narrow antitrust exemption. The findings suggest the NFL’s description of its Sunday Ticket offering as an avid fan service is misleading. Instead, most purchases are made by fans wanting to watch their favorite team with no other options available.

A 2025 NFL draft event underscored recent litigation and oversight findings, showing the league’s television rights structure and revenue model relies heavily on an overstretched antitrust exemption. The report also challenges the league’s assertion that 87 percent of games are available on free broadcast TV, arguing the actual availability is significantly less.

Pressure from legislative bodies may result in continuous scrutiny and antitrust challenges, urging a change in the NFL’s media model before forced alterations by courts or Congress occur. If the current antitrust exemption faces limitations, the NFL would potentially lose its ability to sell its games collectively to broadcast and streaming partners. This shift would dismantle the league’s revenue-sharing model, possibly disrupting competitive balance in the league.

Armando Salguero from OutKick emphasizes the significance of this issue for the NFL, describing the current business model as “practically everything” for the league.