Justice Department Investigates NFL Over Broadcast Deals as Antitrust Exemption Draws Scrutiny
The Justice Department is investigating the NFL’s exclusive streaming deals amid fan frustration over fragmented and paid access. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr questions whether the league should retain its special antitrust exemption, initially established by the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. Pak Gazette contributor Jonathan Turley suggests Congress examine the NFL’s monopoly structure, highlighting its $25 billion annual revenue and rising fan costs.
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Streaming giant Netflix’s push into live sports has ranged from WWE and Formula 1 to select MLB and NFL games.
While the move has drawn some criticism, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the strategy is not intended to secure full-season rights packages for any sports league.”
“We’re not bidding on the entire sports season, including the NFL,” Sarandos told Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” on Tuesday. So far, Sarandos’ comments have held true, as Netflix has prioritized bigger events, including Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and the New York Yankees’ shutout of the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day.
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The Netflix logo is displayed on a building in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on December 2, 2025. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Sarandos’ firm stance on the company’s stance comes amid ongoing federal scrutiny of the NFL and, more broadly, the trend of sports rights becoming more fragmented. Some have argued that the trend makes it more expensive and ultimately difficult for fans to watch games.
NFL FACES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION AFTER FANS EXPRESS FRUSTRATION WITH STREAMING PIVOT: REPORT
However, federal scrutiny over the fragmentation of sports has brought the issue of live sports on streaming services to the forefront.
“Remember, most people pay for TV through pay TV packages that are much more expensive than Netflix,” Sarandos said, suggesting that despite being technically free, TV networks are often included in pay services.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos speaks during the opening of Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth in Eatontown, New Jersey, on May 13, 2025. (Tanya Breen/Asbury Park Press/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Starting in May, Netflix’s ad-supported introductory tier starts at $8.99 per month. The standard plan starts at $19.99 per month, while the premium tier starts at $26.99 per month. Prices may increase if subscribers add additional members. The basic plan has been discontinued.
“As viewers move more and more from linear to streaming to on-demand, if the games aren’t there, it seems kind of ridiculous. It’s not going in the opposite direction to the American consumer,” Sarandos continued.
This fall, Netflix will once again have an exclusive window for an NFL doubleheader on Christmas Day while also expanding its overall presence to five games during the 2026 season. The league’s first game in Australia in Week 1 will stream exclusively on Netflix, while a Thanksgiving Eve showdown will also be included in the California-based company’s expanded NFL rights package.
Netflix and NFL signs advertise the two major Christmas Day NFL games broadcast live on Netflix in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 1, 2024. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
“This is a great thing for the consumer because it offers a very affordable and affordable way to watch sports, TV, movies, kids’ programming, podcasts and play games. All of those things for $8.99 is an incredible proposition for consumers,” Sarandos said, addressing regulatory scrutiny of sports streaming rights and whether waivers should apply when non-linear platforms acquire a portion of a league’s inventory.
“It’s great for leagues to have an active competitive base of people bidding on those games, so that’s valuable. I think that’s an important part of the success story of the American economy, is that you can lean on it and be competitive, and you have to deliver.”
Amid concerns that only a select number of tech companies could end up controlling premium entertainment, Sarandos pushed back, arguing, Sarandos responded, arguing: “I would say people probably said the same thing when pay TV, which most people are probably watching this show on right now, came in and took the place of antenna TV. This is kind of a natural evolution of technology and consumer demand.”
TO Pak Gazette Poll in March indicated that 72% of sports fans think major sporting events should remain free on broadcast television, amid reports that the NFL is considering allowing teams to sell the rights to preseason games to streaming services.
NFL fans who want access to all the games must purchase YouTube TV for “NFL Sunday Ticket,” in addition to expensive subscriptions to all the live streaming services that stream the NFL on.
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Those streaming services are Amazon PrimePeacock and Netflix. The combination of those respective services exceeds $1,500 a year, and that doesn’t include the fees that come with the basic cable or high-speed Wi-Fi packages needed to accommodate the platforms.
Front Office Sports reported that the annual NFL Honors Ceremony, which takes place in the days leading up to the Super Bowl in the host city, is expected to move to Netflix starting in February. The 2027 Super Bowl is scheduled to kick off on February 14 from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
