Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the NFL's growing use of streaming services for game broadcasts could undermine its antitrust exemption. Speaking at an event in Washington, D.C., on December 12, 2024, Carr asked: "Does the NFL still benefit from the antitrust exemption when they’re negotiating for carriage of games not on a sponsored telecast, but on a streaming service?"[1]
Carr warned there is "a point at which you sort of tip the scale, and they’ve just put too many games behind a paywall, and then that whole exemption collapses."[1]
The NFL's exemption originates from the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which allows the league to collectively negotiate television rights deals without violating antitrust laws, subject to conditions including the production of over-the-air broadcasts.[2]
Under the NFL's current 11-year media rights agreement running through the 2033 season, Thursday Night Football games are exclusively streamed on Amazon Prime Video, select Sunday Night Football games are available on Peacock, and Netflix holds rights to Christmas Day games through 2026.[3][4] Access to all regular-season games also requires a YouTube TV NFL Sunday Ticket subscription for out-of-market Sunday afternoon contests, priced at $379 for the 2024 season when purchased early.[5]
Fans seeking the full weekly slate must subscribe to multiple services, with combined annual costs exceeding $1,000 excluding taxes, fees, and internet service.[6]
On December 18, 2024, the FCC adopted a Notice of Inquiry examining the implications of shifting live sports programming from linear television to streaming platforms, with public comments due by February 14, 2025, and reply comments by March 14, 2025.[7]
Carr has noted fan frustration with needing additional streaming services to find games, stating Americans benefit from free over-the-air sports programming.[1]
The NFL did not immediately respond to comment requests.
Sources
- Semafor, "As sports go to streaming, Carr questions NFL’s antitrust protection", December 12, 2024, https://www.semafor.com/article/12/12/2024/fcc-chair-carr-questions-nfl-antitrust-exemption
- U.S. Congress, "Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-263)", October 9, 1961, https://www.congress.gov/bill/87th-congress/house-bill/7947/text
- About Amazon, "Amazon and NFL extend Thursday Night Football partnership", March 13, 2024, https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/entertainment/prime-video-amazon-nfl-thursday-night-football-11-year-extension
- Netflix News, "NFL Christmas Day Games to Stream Live on Netflix", May 22, 2024, https://about.netflix.com/en/news/nfl-christmas-day-games-on-netflix
- YouTube TV, "NFL Sunday Ticket", accessed February 2025, https://tv.youtube.com/learn/nfl-sunday-ticket/
- Sports Media Watch, "How Much Will it Cost to Watch Every NFL Game This Season?", September 5, 2024, https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2024/09/nfl-streaming-cost-2024/
- Federal Communications Commission, "FCC Seeks Comment on Implications of Transition from Linear TV to Streaming for Sports Programming", December 19, 2024, https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-seeks-comment-implications-transition-linear-tv-streaming-sports
