Overview
- The Department of Justice is examining whether the NFL used anticompetitive tactics in selling game broadcasts, with the probe’s scope not yet public.
- The inquiry follows Sen. Mike Lee’s push to revisit the Sports Broadcasting Act, as the FCC runs a parallel review of how leagues sell and distribute games.
- The NFL says more than 87% of games air on free broadcast TV and every game is free in each team’s home market, though select nights on ESPN, Prime Video and Netflix require subscriptions.
- Fans now face higher costs to watch every game, with estimates ranging from about $765 to nearly $1,000 last season as rights are split across several services.
- A 2024 jury verdict over the Sunday Ticket package was later overturned by a judge, highlighting unsettled law around non-broadcast distribution even as long-term TV deals include opt-outs after the 2029 season.