NFL reportedly under investigation by the Justice Department over making it harder for fans to watch games

NFL reportedly under investigation by the Justice Department over antitrust protections, making it harder for fans to watch games

The Justice Department has reportedly opened an investigation into whether the NFL is using “anticompetitive tactics that harm consumers,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

While the exact “nature and scope of the investigation” is not known, per the WSJ, it could involve the league’s ability to allow teams to negotiate their own TV rights packages. Congress has raised concerns in recent months over how difficult it is for fans to watch games due to various rights deals with networks and streaming services.

That’s a stark difference compared to 1961, when the Sports Broadcasting Act was introduced. The statute granted some antitrust protection to the NFL and its teams, allowing them to negotiate media-rights deals.

But television has changed greatly since then, when most games could be viewed on broadcast television. Now, NFL games are split between multiple broadcast networks and streaming services, including Netflix and Prime Video. Those streaming services require subscriptions, making it harder for fans to watch every single game.

In February, Republican Sen. Mike Lee — chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights — estimated fans needed to spend “almost $1,000 on cable and streaming services” if they wanted to watch every NFL game last season.

Both the Justice Department and NFL declined to comment when reached by the WSJ. The NFL, however, did release a statement Thursday, claiming it has the “most fan and broadcaster-friendly” media-distribution model in sports.

It’s unclear what the Justice Department is seeking to accomplish with its reported investigation. The government entity, however, could be looking to get ahead of the issue before the NFL’s next opportunity to renegotiate its media-rights deals.

That’s expected to come after the 2029-30 NFL season, when the league can opt-out of its current deals with CBS, Fox, and NBC.