DOJ probes NFL over streaming and competition concerns

The US Department of Justice has opened an antitrust investigation into the National Football League, examining whether the league’s business practices are limiting competition and making it harder for fans to watch games.

While the full scope of the probe remains unclear, the focus appears tied to a growing concern: the shift of live sports from traditional free-to-air television to a fragmented mix of paid streaming platforms.

Regulators, lawmakers and broadcasters have been raising alarms for months about how this transition affects consumers. Watching a full NFL season increasingly requires multiple subscriptions, with estimates suggesting fans may need to spend more than $1,500 to access all games across different services.

The NFL pushed back on criticism, noting that the majority of its games remain widely accessible. The league said more than 87 percent of games are still shown on free broadcast TV, with local markets guaranteed access to their teams’ matches.

Still, the broader trend is hard to ignore. The Federal Communications Commission has already launched its own review into the migration of sports content to subscription platforms, warning that events once available through basic TV packages are becoming harder — and more expensive — to access.

Behind the issue is a longstanding legal structure. A 1961 law allows major sports leagues to bundle and sell broadcasting rights collectively, an exemption from standard antitrust rules that has shaped how leagues like the NFL negotiate deals.

Now, some policymakers are questioning whether that model still serves the public. In March, Senator Mike Lee called for a review of those exemptions, particularly in light of deals with major tech platforms.

Broadcasters, for their part, argue that the rise of Big Tech in sports rights could weaken local television ecosystems, including news coverage tied to regional stations.

For the Justice Department, the key question is whether the NFL’s current approach crosses the line from coordination into anti-competitive behaviour — especially as the economics of sports media continue to shift.