Dept. of Justice sets sights on NFL's media rights deals
The DOJ is addressing whether the anti-trust exemption given to sports leagues for its TV deals to applies to streamers.
Puka Nacuaof the Los Angeles Rams scores a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Dec. 18 (Steph Chambers / Getty Images) The Dept. of Justice is investigating the NFL's media deals with streaming companies as more of its games go behind subscription pay walls.
The investigation first reported by the Wall Street Journal centers on the financial impact of live sports streaming on consumers and whether the league's traditional broadcast partners are getting fair treatment. The Justice Dept. did not respond to a request for comment.
A government official told NBC News the DOJ's investigation into the NFL is “about affordability for consumers and creating an even playing field for providers. " Early last month, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah requested the investigation in a letter to the DOJ, and issued a statement Thursday on X saying he was glad to see it move forward.
The Sports Broadcasting Act passed by Congress in 1961 allowed professional football teams to collectively license the TV rights of their games to national broadcast networks without running afoul of anti-trust laws. Lee noted that courts have recognized the act refers to broadcasts "financed through advertising and made available free to the public. " Lee said sports packages that go behind subscription paywalls "no longer align" with the intention of the act which was passed when the public only had access to three TV networks.
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