https://nypost.com/2026/03/27/busin...-protections-for-shifting-games-to-streaming/ FCC Chair Brendan Carr told The Post Friday that the NFL could lose its antitrust exemptions if it sticks too many live games behind paywalls, as the agency clamps down on pro leagues’ deals with streaming services. Leagues are currently protected from antitrust action under the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which has allowed individual teams’ TV rights to be pooled into massive packages – but as Carr noted, this exemption applies to “the sponsored telecasting” of games. “There’s a live question at this point about whether putting games on Netflix or YouTube TV or other entities like that … is that a sponsored telecast or is that something else?” Carr told The Post in an interview Friday. https://frontofficesports.com/nfl-faces-antitrust-threat-from-fcc-chair-over-streaming-push/ PHOENIX — Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr could become an obstacle in the NFL’s pursuit of elevated rights fees, as he is now threatening the league’s antitrust exemption. In a series of media and conference appearances in recent days, the close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump said the NFL’s increasing broadcast fragmentation is testing the commission’s patience, and that intervention could be forthcoming. Goodell: “We select our partners in part for that reason. Economics are obviously part of that, the value that’s created. But at the end of the day, we want partners who are going to broaden our audience.” What kind of double speak is that? He wasn't even good at it. Is he somehow trying NOT to say that its ONLY about the money?!
Yeah I mean the NFL isn't the only league doing this so it does feel like they are being targeted here.
People are going to go back to cable pretty soon, ha. It's really becoming egregious. I personally don't have any skin in the game whatsoever anymore because I sail the high seas full tilt now.
https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/...-nfl-subscription-fees-source-says-rcna267454 WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether the NFL is forcing football fans to pay too much in subscription fees, according to two sources familiar with the investigation. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nfl-under-investigation-doj-anticompetitive-112739514.html The National Football League (NFL) is facing renewed scrutiny after the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly launched an investigation into its media rights deals. The probe focuses on whether the league’s distribution model limits competition and drives up costs for viewers. DOJ launches investigation against NFL According to multiple reports, the Justice Department is examining whether the NFL’s television and streaming agreements violate antitrust laws. Specifically, officials are reviewing whether bundling broadcast rights and placing games behind subscription paywalls has made access more expensive for consumers. A government official said the inquiry is “about affordability for consumers and creating an even playing field for providers.” https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/doj-steps-fight-nfl-streaming-151520786.html The National Football League is facing a Justice Department investigation into whether its aggressive shift toward streaming has crossed into anticompetitive territory, leaving everyday fans paying the price. According to the Wall Street Journal, the DOJ opened the probe on Thursday. They are focusing on the league’s media rights deals that increasingly force viewers to juggle costly subscriptions just to catch all the action. We'll see what happens. Again, yarrrgh, I'm a pirate, me matey, but I'll be following this to see how it all pans out. I have bigger fish to fry: Central Hudson.
