The House Judiciary Committee has requested NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to provide testimony at a hearing examining the potential negative effects of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 on consumers. This request, detailed in a letter from committee chairman Jim Jordan, is not a subpoena; Goodell has the option to decline but must inform the committee of his decision by June 3.
The hearing, scheduled for June 10, will focus on how the Sports Broadcasting Act has influenced the current media landscape for major sports. Specifically, it will evaluate the use of antitrust exemptions by professional sports leagues and whether these exemptions have resulted in consumer harm, potentially calling for legal remedies.
Currently, the Sports Broadcasting Act allows leagues like the NFL to collectively negotiate media rights, which has significantly benefited them. The NFL’s ongoing media rights deal is reportedly valued at over $110 billion, with major broadcasters like ABC/ESPN, FOX, CBS, and NBC each paying substantial annual fees.
As streaming services like Amazon Prime and Netflix begin to acquire rights to NFL games, Congress and regulators are investigating whether these practices comply with broadcasting laws. Should lawmakers decide reforms are necessary, the NFL may face major changes, as suggested by Jordan’s letter indicating that committee members might take a critical stance.
Despite the NFL claiming that 87 percent of its games air on “free” TV, consumers have voiced concerns about added costs from required subscriptions to see games increasingly streamed on paid services. For instance, Amazon Prime will have exclusive rights to certain games this season, while Netflix and Peacock will also stream select matchups—adding to consumer frustrations over rising expenses.
