DOJ Probes NFL Streaming Deals and Antitrust Exemption

The Justice Department is investigating the NFL’s exclusive streaming agreements while fans express frustration over limited and costly access. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is questioning whether the league should maintain its special antitrust exemption, originally established by the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act. Jonathan Turley, a Fox News contributor, suggests Congress examine the NFL’s monopoly structure, noting their $25 billion annual revenue and increasing costs for fans.

On Monday, a report by the House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, criticized the NFL. The report claims the league has ignored the limitations of the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act and its antitrust exemption, evolving into a profitable sports empire at the expense of consumer choices and increased viewing costs. The report indicates that the exemption intended to help the NFL has instead spurred it into becoming a global sports media powerhouse.

Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Jamie Raskin attended a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 22, 2026. The report, titled ‘The Sports Broadcasting Act: A special-interest antitrust exemption gone awry,’ discusses the league’s Sunday Ticket offering. It presents evidence from the ongoing Sunday Ticket antitrust case, which includes a 2024 jury verdict finding the NFL violated antitrust law and awarded over $4.796 billion in damages. A judge later vacated this verdict, which the report argues was wrongful.

The report also reveals that most Sunday Ticket subscribers are not avid fans seeking all games but rather fans wanting to watch one out-of-market team. Streaming service EverPass Media will become the exclusive commercial provider for the NFL Sunday Ticket starting in 2026. The report suggests that ESPN proposed a Sunday Ticket package priced at $70 per season. However, the NFL opposed this price and a team-by-team purchase option, limiting consumer choice and locking fans into a pricier bundle.

Congress is examining the NFL’s agreements with broadcast, cable, and streaming services in relation to the SBA’s narrow antitrust exemption. The findings suggest that the NFL’s claims about the Sunday Ticket’s value to avid fans are misleading. The Sunday Ticket is primarily purchased by fans looking to watch their favorite team, often with no other options available.

Recent litigation and congressional oversight highlight that the NFL’s television rights structure relies heavily on an inflated antitrust exemption. The report challenges the NFL’s claim that 87% of games are available on free broadcast television. In reality, less than half are accessible, depending on the area and week. The NFL maintains that the Sunday Ticket, with a $480 fee, serves avid fans. However, the committee argues otherwise.

The NFL could face continued legislative scrutiny and antitrust challenges, pressing the league to revise its media strategy. Without its current antitrust exemption, the league would need to allow individual teams to market their TV rights. This change would disrupt the revenue-sharing model and potentially affect competitive balance, as some teams may secure larger deals than others.